Urban cicken moving out

The decision came after a year-long debate about whether poultry within the city limits was agreeable to the populace as a whole. Most Winfield residents that have poultry keep them outside the city limits. Currently, however, a few people in town house them.

When the ordinance goes into effect on Jan. 1, those with bulk chickens will either have to move them outside the city limits or find them new homes, as the only chickens that will be allowed in the city limits will be limited to one chicken per household and only to members of 4-H, as well as county fair entrants, for show and competition only. No fighting roosters will be allowed.

Before the ordinance was passed, those with numerous chickens had to apply for permits that allowed them to keep more than three pets - a long-standing Winfield ordinance for keeping any animals.

Those people with existing permits can renew them through Dec. 31, 2009. After that date, any remaining permits will be phased out completely to fit the new ordinance. The new ordinance will also count against the the three-pet rule.