An urban chicken pilot program dominated the discussion at Elsmere City Council’s caucus meeting on Jan. 2.
Realtor Eric Bunzow joined five other Elsmere residents to provide updates on their chicken-raising efforts.
Spearheaded by Bunzow, the urban chicken pilot program went live in Elsmere on May 1, 2023, following discussions throughout June and July of 2022 and the city council’s approval in April 2023.
The program, which allows Elsmere residents to buy and raise up to six chickens per person under state laws, is set to expire at the end of April this year. However, the city council is considering an ordinance on the program instead of simply extending the pilot period because of the participants’ positive response.
Bunzow said he is investigating sightings of lost or wandering chickens in the city, potentially pointing to residents raising chickens outside of the pilot program without the city council’s knowledge. Bunzow said that such an activity would be unfair because he has spent a lot of money on ensuring the best living conditions for his chicken and transparency with the city.