The St. Joseph County Animal Patrol Commission on an appeals docket approved two exceptions allowing property owners with less than the ordinance’s 0.5-acre minimum to keep backyard chickens.

The exceptions were granted to Jonah and Leah Twitty of 18397 Chaucer Lane and to Brandy and Ethan Fletcher of 20104 Leyden Street after county animal-control staff said they had received no complaints about either household.

The Twittys told the commission they have 0.47 acres and want six chickens for farm-fresh eggs and to teach their children responsibility. "We have 0.47 acres, so it's not quite enough. And, we're hoping to get the 6 chickens that we're able to have if we can get approved just as a way to have some farm fresh eggs," Jonah Twitty said during the appeal.

Ethan Fletcher said his household has 0.27 acres and that they plan to keep fewer than six chickens, probably three or four, and to buy a prefabricated coop and secure the run against coyotes in nearby Saint Pat's Park. "We're gonna do some extra securing to make sure that they're not bothering them," Fletcher told the commission.

Animal-control staff member Jenny (first name on the record) told the commission she had no objections and that neither household had prior complaints on file. Commissioner Joshua made a motion to approve the Twitty request; the commission voted in favor. A motion to accept the Fletcher appeal likewise passed after staff said there were no complaints.

The commission told both households it would follow up with next steps by mail or phone; Jenny said she would contact the Twittys and the Wagners the next day to explain the process. The approvals mean each household may proceed with the county’s limited-permit process as long as permit conditions are met.

The decisions were handled during the appeals segment of the meeting; both appeals were decided on the record with motions and voice votes recorded by the commission.

The county’s chicken-permit rule (the 0.5-acre threshold) remained unaltered; these actions are case-by-case exceptions based on staff findings of no neighborhood complaints.