Chicken slaughter now legal in Electric City

You will soon be able to slaughter chickens in Electric City, legally, as a result of action taken by the city council Tuesday night. It takes five days for the ordinance amendment to take effect.

The action amends the city’s “chicken” ordinance that passed last month and stated that you couldn’t legally slaughter chickens within the city limits.

So residents who already have chickens, or move forward on having up to six hens, can, if they so desire, slaughter a chicken for Sunday dinner.

The chicken ordinance stirred up a few folks in the city who could see Electric City turning into a giant farmyard with chickens running everywhere.

Not to be, though.

A check with the city on Tuesday revealed that only four residents have asked for copy of the city’s chicken ordinance. There hasn’t been any money put down for a permit, City Clerk Jackie Perman noted.

In order to raise six chickens in the city, you have to have a chicken coop inspection, which costs $50, a one-time charge. Then you have to have an annual chicken license that’s $15 more.

City officials stated last week that there were three residents who already had chickens, even before the ordinance passed.

Those living in the city on properly zoned acreage don’t have to pay to have farm animals.

Got a cow, a horse, a sheep? Never mind, no charge.

On acreage sites in the city, you can have 15 fowl other than roosters, 15 quacking ducks, 15 geese, 15 guinea fowl, not over 15 rabbits, one horse, mule or cow, or three goats.

The ordinance states that you have to keep the farm animals on your own prioperty.