Winder to keep ban on backyard chickens

WINDER - The Winder City Council has changed its mind and won't allow people to keep chickens and ducks in residential neighborhoods after all.

The council has been discussing a change in the city's ban on residential fowl since last fall when Winder resident Nicola Gleaton petitioned the city to legalize pet chickens.

Council members questioned if it was worth changing the law and taking on extra enforcement expense if only a few city residents want to raise chickens. There were also questions about how the rules would be enforced.

Mayor Chip Thompson says the council will change the city's animal control ordinance so that it addresses the issue of chickens separately, but it will allow them only on agricultural tracts of 5 acres or more.
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