2 Missouri cities mull backyard chicken laws

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The St. Louis suburb of Clayton is considering putting limits on people who keep small backyard flocks of hens.

Clayton's existing ordinance requires only that chickens be kept in a sanitary fashion and not for commercial use.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the number of hens per household wasn't an issue until recently, when greater numbers of backyard hens began showing up throughout the city.

The tending of small backyard flocks has grown in popularity in some Missouri cities and throughout the U.S. Enthusiasts appreciate the eggs and often see the hens as pets.

Officials in Columbia are also studying the issue of backyard flocks, and the city of St. Louis is poised to outlaw roosters.

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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com