What's Happening in Hanover, PA…

According to an animal ordinance passed by the Hanover Borough Council in December of last year, more than four chickens is too many, but one local isn’t happy with the rule.

Ashlee Vandewater keeps 17 hens in a coop in her backyard. Her family raises the hens for their eggs and doesn't consider them to be pets. Part of the reason Vandewater is keeping the chickens is so that her nine-month-old son can learn what is involved in producing food.

Along with limiting the number of chickens people can own to four, the new rule bans roosters and commercial production. The ordinance also requires people who want to own chickens to apply for a permit from the borough. Boroughs and towns that pass new laws and ordinances can use printing services to keep residents up to date.

Council members settled on a limit of four after looking at the rules in other municipalities. Four chickens seemed like an adequate number to provide food for a family of four people, as Borough Manager Michael Bowersox told the Hanover Evening Sun.

Vandewater disagrees and has sent a letter to the council. She also made a comment publicly during a meeting in April, and asked council to consider matters on a case-by-case basis.

Even if the council does not ultimately change its mind, Vandewater will get to keep her 17 chickens, although she will be unable to replace the birds when they eventually die off.