I run a small sole trader business called Happy Hens Fowl House in the heart of Lithgow, that sells fresh organic Eggs and when the season is right chicks. Council is trying to shut my business down by telling me I cannot have more than 5 chickens or own any roosters even though my roosters are night boxed INSIDE MY HOME until between 8am and 9am when I let them outside, and they wear roosters collars that are purchased from right here in Australia. These Collars do not impact on any behaviours other than acting like a muffler on a car and reducing the loudness of the crow… my boys can still eat, drink, “bock” and mate just like a normal rooster. These roosters are not just birds to me, they are not just a source of “pocket money” they are also therapy animals for myself with mental health issues and for my children one of which has special needs and is often found out in the backyard sitting with the chickens and roosters in his own calm “bubble”. To lose any of my “extended family” would not only be devastating for myself both mentally and financially but to my children who have watched, helped and named many of these birds from very small chicks. Due to my children all having a hand in raising these birds I do not have any problems with aggression from my Roosters. To see a child under the age of 6 pick up a basically fully grown rooster and have him snuggle into her is something amazing. And this is what council wants to put an end to?

my proposal to council… is to let myself  (and others in and around town) have roosters and more than 5 chickens under these changes.

1) all owners of roosters MUST hold a permit issued by council. These permits can also apply if you wish to own more than 5 hens. Much like the reptile license it can state what class of permit you hold. Eg. a class R1 permit means you are permitted to have 1 Rooster on your property, a class C10 would mean you are allowed 10 chickens and a class B1 means you are a registered business under the ASIC (must be able to provide proof) and are a allowed up to 2 Roosters and upto 20 chickens. The more you wish to own the higher number of “classes”.
I for one would be more than happy to pay for anyone of these permits.  (So long as council didn’t exploit the cost for their own financial gain)

2) all roosters must be night boxed inside YOUR dwelling from 5pm until 8am in non daylight savings time or from 7pm untill 8am during daylight savings.

And

3) all spurs on roosters must be kept filed down (as per show requirements) to avoid injury to person or animal. Wings must also be clip to prevent the bird from flying out of your yard if they free range. (All of mine have one wing clipped, including my Roosters)

Of course all other standards and regulations must be kept. Appropriate housing at the appropriate distance from dwellings etc.

Lithgow council is living by the legislation act that was written in 1993, in this day and age it’s simply not up to today’s standards especially when Lithgow is not part of a metropolitan area and we are classed as being in the central west of NSW, which in turn are classed as either regional or rural. 200 signatures will get the attention of council and hopefully they will amend their by-laws on this issue.