SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- Chickens will be allowed to roost again within the Springfield city limits, but they will have limited range.
The Springfield City Council on Monday approved limited chicken farming on city lots. The new ordinance still prohibits roosters, and no more than six hens are allowed in each brood. And the birds' housing has specific guidelines.
The Springfield News-Leader reports that the ordinance passed on a 5-4 vote, with Mayor Jim O'Neal casting the deciding vote.
Supporters of the ordinance said allowing urban chickens is a matter of property rights and food sustainability. But opponents said the chickens were a public health risks and a drain on city resources.
Information from: Springfield News-Leader, www.news-leader.com