Township to 79-Year-Old: No Chickens For You

A southern New Jersey woman is seeking permission to keep six chickens on her property so she can have organic eggs, according to the Press of Atlantic City.

The problem is, her property on Shore Drive in Lower Township, is not a farm.

The Township has told 79-year-old Claire Nagel she has to get rid of her chickens by Aug. 29 because her property is smaller than an acre.

But property size isn’t Nagel’s only problem. Recently, a neighbor complained about the Rhode Island Reds.

The 79-year-old is holding her ground.

“It’s a very clean environment with no noise and no odor,” Nagel tells the Press of Atlantic City.

She also tells the Press that the chickens make less noise than the crows and seagulls that fly over the neighborhood.

In fact, township manager Mike Voll was impressed when he paid Nagel’s house a visit – the outdoor coop was clean, the chickens have their own easy access indoor area and the elderly woman even plays music for her “friends,” reports the paper.

According to the Press of AC, Nagel says she spoke to someone from the township before purchasing the chickens and was under the impression that each person residing on a property could have one pet chicken.

Nagel is requesting that she be allowed to keep the chickens and that chickens or ducks be allowed on 10,000-square-foot lots.

The Planning Board is set to consider Nagel's request on Thursday.

Nagel has had the chickens since April, they have yet to lay an egg.