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Politics & Government

Cobb Family Fights Chicken Ordinance

The Pond Family wants farm-fresh eggs straight from the source: backyard chickens.

Joseph and Elizabeth Pond want their family to get farm-fresh eggs from backyard chickens, and they've started a legal fight that's ruffling feathers.

They don't live on a farm. They live in a Cobb County subdivision.

According to Section 134 of the Cobb County ordinance, you need at least two acres to keep chickens on your property. The Pond family yard is smaller, but that's not stopping Joseph Pond's efforts to change the ordinance.

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He already has the Polish chicken, the Rhode Island Reds and the Black Copper Morans as family pets and providers of fresh eggs.

The Ponds' two children, Madeline and Samuel, consider the chickens as pets that provide an important food source: eggs.

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The code also says the coop must be 100 feet from the property line. Pond's coop is not, but he says his chickens have not disturbed neighbors.

Pond has filed for a variance. The variance hearing is Wednesday. If he fails, he'll have to hire an attorney if he wants to fight for the birds.

He needs two county commissioners to support changing the ordinance. If he succeeds, it will be brought before the full board for approval in January, which is when the commissioners update the code each year.

Pond’s district commissioner, JoAnn Birrell, has been in touch with him but said she supports the law as it stands, according to the Marietta Daily Journal.

“There’s a reason for the code,” she told the MDJ. “And it’s been there since 1972.”

Northeast Cobb Patch asked Pond if he has had success in his mission. "I would say yes, there is success. We are definitely getting the word out, which is one of our goals. None of the commissioners have pledged support, but I remain optimistic. They know a lot more about backyard chickens now than they did before."

Pond's efforts are nothing to cluck at. He founded The Backyard Chickens Alliance of Cobb County, which is gaining members and supporters daily.

"We spent the first weekend of September at the . We had a great time there, and the patrons really enjoyed our booth. We brought my hens in the Port-A-Coop, as usual, and also brought some baby chicks, baby ducks, bunnies and Guinea pigs. We had a small petting zoo going on," Ponds said.

The Ponds and supporters marched in protest of the ordinance at today's East Cobber parade. They had a booth and petting zoo and educated the public about chickens.

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