Although part of Hanover Township was once known as Chickentown, animal husbandry has been banned in residential areas since the 60s. Northampton County Children and Youth caseworker Amy Zanelli would like that policy to change, and appealed to supervisors at their Aug. 25 meeting.

Flashing her badge, she complained that Township Manager Jay Finnigan had engaged in fowl play when he told her that the board is unlikely to change its mind.

“I don’t think it’s fair that one board member should speak for the rest,” she argued. She asked supervisors to allow her to make a presentation at their next meeting, and they agreed.

Finnigan, who is township manager and not a board member, was relaying their policy as of November 2011, which was the last time this issue was discussed.

“We’ve been down that road before, and rather recently,” observed Chairman John N. Diacogiannis. But he told Zanelli that she is welcome to make a presentation at a meeting in September.

Zanelli told supervisors that she began circulating a petition that afternoon, and in two hours, had 50 signatures in support of backyard chickens. The only person who refused to sign was the neighbor who had complained. She has been ordered to shut down her operation, or face a fine of $500 a day. She explained that she has a tiny coup of four hens, with no rooster, and uses it to teach her own and other neighborhood children about the benefits of urban agriculture.

“I am sure this was not the type of activity that the community was seeking to prevent when it enacted the ban,” she said.

She made clear that she wants more than a special exception. She wants the animal husbandry ban changed.

The increasing popularity of urban chickens has extended into some major metropolitan areas like New York City, Portland and Seattle. But to some, backyard chickens are for the birds. Among the concerns raised are odors, unwanted predators, declining property values, noise and disease.