Tampa City Council Talks Backyard Chickens - WFLA-TV News Channel 8

Marion Lambert has been raising chickens for almost 40 years on his farm zoned land in South Tampa. In a society that's become obsessed with eating local and organic foods, he wishes his neighbors, who are not farmers, could keep some birds of their own.

"I sell about 250 eggs a day," Lambert said. "I ask people why they like the eggs so much and they say they're better, they're fresher, they taste better. We sell out everyday"

Lambert loves the idea of people, who aren't farm zoned, having backyard chickens. He also says there need to be rules.

"Anyone who has an animal whether that's a dog or chicken in a place where a person has neighbors there needs to be rules and regulations," Lambert said

The issue of backyard chickens has been ruffling feathers in the bay area for years now. Thursday morning the Tampa City Council will discuss making the birds legal under certain circumstances. The proposal includes:

• Hens only no roosters
• One chicken per 1,000 square feet of land and not more than 10 total
• Chickens must be kept in an enclosed area
• A coop must be on the property and 10 feet from any house

Councilman Frank Reddick says, even with regulations, he's against people keeping chickens in an urban setting.

"Once you start allowing chickens in the backyard even those it's in a coop eventually there's an opportunity the chicken will get loose," Reddick said. "If they get loose they're going to roam in someone else's yard and roam in the neighborhood and that's going to pose a problem."

There will be time for public comment during the meeting.