Urban chicken debate reaches Grand Haven

OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – In Grand Haven, one girl, her dad, and three chickens are causing a bit of controversy and discussion on an issue that's been popping up all over America.

The issue is chickens in the city. There's been a movement in America lately to bring chickens into cities, many people are looking to raise them, but in Grand Haven Charter Township one family is being told they can't keep their chickens. That family is looking to change the township's mind.

Hannah Fidelman may only be eleven years old, but she knows more about the urban chicken movement than most people.

“In certain areas they should be allowed,” said Hannah, “in East Lansing and a lot of other places in Michigan, they're allowing city chickens.”

Hannah also knows quite a bit about chicken zoning laws.

“And Grand Haven, you know, most of us have at least one acre or more,” said Hannah, “I think that's enough property to have four or five chickens.”

Hannah wants to keep the pets she loves, after all, it's not every pet that supplies breakfast, but Hannah and her father, Chuck Fidelman, are facing down local ordinances when it comes to their fowl.

“There has to be a limit, there has to be rules,” said Chuck, “that's what Hannah and I are attempting to do is to get the township to relax that.”

In Grand Haven Township, chickens can't exactly lead the city life, local ordinances forbid it. Hannah and her father got a notice from the township that their chickens might have to leave the suburbs. That notice has since been put on hold, and now everyone is working towards a resolution.

“What my daughter is proposing the township do is modify that to allow smaller acreage properties to keep chickens,” said Chuck.

People and cities across America are starting to come around on the idea of having chickens in the city, but it's still a process, one that Hannah is learning about first-hand.

“What's the difference between a chicken and a dog,” asked Hannah. “They both chase you around the backyard, they both, some of them both eat bugs.”