Share this on:
 Facebook
 Twitter
 Tumblr
 E-mail
27,397
VIEWS
 
RECOMMENDS
113
SHARES
About this iReport
  • Approved for CNN

    • Click to view obrienkayla's profile
    Posted April 11, 2012 by
    obrienkayla
    Location
    Winter Park, Florida
    Editors pick
    Editor's Pick!
    Team iReport featured this story

    More from obrienkayla
    More iReports you should see

    Backyard Chickens - Winter Park Florida

    By obrienkayla  |  Posted April 11, 2012  |  Winter Park, Florida
     

    CNN PRODUCER NOTE     obrienkayla is a junior broadcast journalism major at the University of Central Florida. She says that when she reached out to the city of Winter Park for comment, she was told that the city isn't necessarily against changing the law, but that no one had brought to their attention the desire to change it yet. The Backyard Yard Chicken Initiative plans to bring their petition to city commissioners once they've received 500 signatures.
    - rachel8, CNN iReport producer

    The Backyard Chicken Initiative is making an impact in Winter Park.

    Some Winter Park residents want to keep chickens as pets. However due to an ordinance in the city it is currently forbidden. The Backyard Yard Chicken Initiative project wants Winter Park to follow the 500 other cities in the United States that have overturned similar laws in recent years. The project president Rachel Whited is a chicken owner herself. She keeps her chickens in hiding to dodge any possible punishments from city code enforcers. As the leader of the group she is asking for people with an open mind to get involved with their cause.

    "We are looking for people to come with us to the City Commission Meeting because physical people look even better than ink on paper," Whited said.

    Whited and other members of the group swear the organic eggs their pet chickens produce are the best they've ever tasted.

    "When you get an egg from the back yard you have to hit it two or three times before it will crack. The shell is so much thicker and it tastes way better," Whited says.

    The group is open to explaining their reasons behind starting the initiative. They say some people have reservations about the smell and sound of the animals.

    "I used to have the same stereotypes as people have now, that they were smelly, that they were loud but then I found out they're not and now I'm attached," Whited said.

    What these self proclaimed urban farmers are asking for is to be able to keep up to five hens no roosters on their property. They are willing to follow all laws pertaining to pets in the city. Bill Palmer, the owner of Palmer Feed in Orlando has already seen an increase of interest in chickens and chicken supplies. He thinks people want to try something new.

    "I think people want to be able to see where their food comes from. They are more accepting and want to try things out," Palmer said.

    To gather support the group put together an online petition on change.org. Their goal is to get 500 signatures before they present their case to city commissioners. To date they have 255 signatures.

    Kayla O'Brien

    What do you think of this story?

    Select one of the options below. Your feedback will help tell CNN producers what to do with this iReport. If you'd like, you can explain your choice in the comments below.
    Be and editor! Choose an option below:
      Awesome! Put this on TV! Almost! Needs work. This submission violates iReport's community guidelines.

    Comments

    Log in to comment

    iReport welcomes a lively discussion, so comments on iReports are not pre-screened before they post. See the iReport community guidelines for details about content that is not welcome on iReport.

    Add your Story Add your Story