The City of Casper will be expanding the types of domesticated fowl allowed in its limits, following approval by the City Council on Tuesday. Now, city residents will be able to keep birds such as quail for egg production.
Updated Regulations
The decision amends several sections of the Casper Municipal Code to broaden the definition of allowed poultry beyond the previous restriction that only permitted hen chickens. Under the updated regulations, residents are permitted to keep up to six birds in total, which can consist of a combination of chicken hens and other domesticated fowl.
The change follows requests from citizens and groups who approached Metro Animal Services seeking to include non-game quail and similar birds for their eggs and sustainability benefits. In a previous council work session, City Attorney Eric Nelson also said a recent court case involving a domesticated dog that attacked a resident’s birds was another impetus for the change.
The ordinance maintains strict guidelines for the housing and care of the animals to ensure public health and safety. All fowl must be provided with a covered, fully enclosed and predator-resistant coop that offers at least five square feet of space per bird. And the structures must be located in the rear yard of a property and are required to be set back at least six feet from property lines, or three feet if the coop is adjacent to an alley.
While the new rules allow for more variety in poultry, certain restrictions remain in place. Roosters continue to be prohibited within city limits, with the exception of those kept in areas specifically zoned for urban agriculture. Additionally, the ordinance strictly prohibits the butchering of any chickens or domesticated fowl within the city limits. To prevent attracting vermin, owners are required to store all bird feed in airtight metal containers.
Residents who choose to keep fowl are responsible for ensuring the birds do not become a nuisance or wander at large. During daylight hours, any area the birds can access outside of their coop must be secured by a privacy fence at least six feet high. Metro Animal Services will maintain oversight of these regulations, and any bird found at large may be impounded by animal control officers.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
