By Hayleigh Gowans

Staff Writer

Despite imposing a ban on poultry living on lots in the village of Fayetteville about five years ago, the village board is considering allowing chickens to be kept and raised by residents on their properties as a means to reduce the number of ticks in the area.

David Cassel, a member of the Fayetteville Deer Committee, submitted a proposal to the village board to reconsider allowing residents to keep poultry on their property. While raising chickens can be beneficial as a food source, Cassel said they could also help control the number of ticks in the area.

“As a father, it’s important for me to teach my daughters where their food comes from,” said Cassel. “And as a member of the deer committee, I made a commitment to not just reduce the number of deer but also to see what else can be done to combat this problem of ticks and the spread of Lyme Disease.”

The intention to remove the ban on chickens on village property was referenced in the adopted white-tailed deer management plan, under the section heading “Management supplements.” The deer management plan was drafted by the deer committee and adopted by the Fayetteville Village Board in November 2015.

“Management supplements are actions that, while they do not affect the deer population directly, help work towards the program’s success. Examples of management supplements members of the deer committee are reviewing are: the removal of village ban on chicken hens and guinea hens, as they are documented as an effective control of ticks,” the adopted deer management document said.

Cassel said he has done research and found many large cities across the United States allow residential chickens, and the village of Manlius has allowed them in their village code since 1959.

Just last summer, the village of East Syracuse considered a ban on poultry after a large number of complaints were filed that related to properties that housed them, but the village board decided to hold off after hearing resident comments in support of continuing to allow poultry.

Mayor Mark Olson said the ban on poultry in Fayetteville five years ago came about mainly because of a property that was causing a disturbance to other residents because of the poultry living on their lot. Olson said he is not against looking into lifting the ban, but wants to make sure it is done in a way to ensure residents who choose to raise chickens are doing it in a responsible manner. Cassel suggested the village put certain conditions, such as mandatory poultry care courses, a limit on the number of chickens or fees to residents who wish to obtain a poultry permit.

Trustee Dennis Duggleby, however, said he did not think this was a matter that needed to be addressed.

“Chickens really aren’t village animals. I know I don’t want chickens in my backyard…Once we let someone do this, there really is no way we can police it,” said Duggleby.

The village board has not taken any action, but plans to continue the discussion and the matter will be addressed at the next board meeting, 6 p.m. on Monday, May 9 at the village office, 425 E. Genesee St., Fayetteville.