Resident Fights For Backyard Chickens In Town Of Babylon

TOWN OF BABYLON, NY — A West Babylon resident spoke on behalf of chicken owners in the town of Babylon to ask the board to allow for "backyard chickens" at local homes during the meeting Wednesday afternoon.

At the hearing, local resident Robert Frampton spoke to the board members to ask them to lessen the restrictions in the town code to allow residents to keep chickens in their homes.

"There's a lot of responsible chicken owners in Babylon who keep very good care of our chickens," he said during the meeting "We love our chickens and we keep a real clean operation."

He specifically addressed the more recent proposal in October that required 100 foot setback to avoid attracting rats.

He also spoke about the concerns from local residents and groups, including one that the chickens could spread salmonella. However, Frampton said that backyard poultry only contributes to 0.13 percent of all salmonella cases.

"You have a better chance of getting salmonella illness from preparing chicken in your house and I mean, are we going to stop eating chicken in your household?" he asked.

He also brought up that in all five boroughs of New York City allow for backyard chickens.

"If in New York City in a tiny, little backyard of an New York City apartment you can keep chickens, how can we not have chickens here in West Babylon?" he said.

He also claimed that his family has been raising chickens for over 100 years and that every resident should have a right to grow and raise their own food.

Supervisor Rich Schaffer said the town board will continue to consider the proposal.

Watch the full meeting below:

What do you think? Should the town allow backyard chickens? Let us know in the comments below.