(The Center Square) — The Bossier City Council on Tuesday rejected an ordinance that would have allowed residents within city limits to raise chickens for personal use and egg production.
The 5-2 vote came down to differing opinions among council members about the cleanliness of poultry in a neighborhood setting.
The ordinance would have allowed up to four hens in backyard coops. Council President Chris Smith suggested a $100-per-year permit fee for chicken owners.
Supporters said the ordinance would have helped middle and lower-income residents make ends meet.
“After COVID, we saw how many people needed to be a little bit more self-reliant with themselves and providing themselves eggs and vegetables in their backyards,” Bossier resident Brenda Davis told the council in October. Davis previously owned chickens in her backyard but was forced to get rid of them after someone reported them to the city.
The price tag on an 18-count carton of pasture-raised brown eggs at Target in Bossier City is $9.99, with an estimated tax of 50 cents, bringing the total to $10.49, or about 58 cents per egg.
Four hens that each lay one egg a day have the potential to produce up to 28 eggs per week, according to the ordinance, proposed by Councilman Brian Hammons.
Many residents argued against the council’s “cleanliness” stance, noting that cats freely roam throughout neighborhoods, walk on vehicles and use flower beds and yards as bathrooms.
Bossier remains one of the only cities in Louisiana that bans backyard chickens. Shreveport allows residential lots to have no more than six laying hens for personal use and egg production. Residents are not allowed to have roosters in the city.
Bossier also rejected backyard chickens in 2022 even after 261 people signed a petition in support of allowing them.
