Chicken-keeping group praises one-year ordinance; asks council to consider raising the limit from four to six hens

Carol Bartram, speaking for the Peninsula Chicken Keepers Group, thanked the city for support during the one-year review of the chicken-keeping ordinance and reported strong community interest in backyard poultry classes (about 30 attendees at the first class and more than 60 at the second).

"We had to pull out more chairs," Bartram said, noting that volunteer-led classes and animal-control staff have been helpful. She said some members would like the council to revisit the number of chickens allowed per household.

Jennifer Price, a relatively new Hampton resident, urged the council to consider increasing the limit from four hens to six, saying four hens may not yield enough eggs for larger households: "If you have a family of 6 people, it's really kinda hard to supplement 6 people and divide up 4 eggs a day." Supporters also raised a practical issue: state law limits feed-store sales in small quantities, making it harder to purchase fewer than six chicks.