Memo on Fowl %26 Poultry from Village Manager Bryan Healy
1 page
From the meeting:
Regular Meeting — 2026-09-02
· our coverage →
Agenda item: Public Hearings — Public Hearing on Local Law Introductory No. 10 of 2026 to amend Chapter 230, Zoning, of the Village Code to update provisions related to domestic animals and farm animals.
Retrieved 2026-08-31 from the village's meeting portal.
Also attached to this agenda item:
CAF - Local Law Intro 10 of 2026
Local Law Introductory No. 10 of 2026
Memo from Valerie Monastra on Fowl%2FAnimals
PB Memo to VB Local Law Intro 10 of 2026 Farm Animals
Proposed Language on Farm Animals and Fowl - June 2026
Proposed Language on Farm Animals and Fowl - May 2026
Public Comments Received by Email - August 19
Public Comments Received by Email - August 31
Resolution 156-2026 LL Intro 10 of 2026 Referrals
Resolution 180-2026 LL Intro 10 of 2026 PH
Short EAF Part 1 - Local Law Intro 10 of 2026 completed
Extracted text
To:
From:
Date:
June 20, 2026
Re:
Research on Fowl (Chickens, Pigeons, etc.)
Following the Village Board’s last work session, I have undertaken some research on best practices
for keeping fowl on residential properties.
Cornell University, through its Small Farms Program, provides recommendations for urban farming.
They recommend that coops be secured and that all areas where fowl can roam be properly
penned/fenced. Feed should be stored securely in sealed, metal containers, to avoid attracting rodents.
Coops should be well ventilated to remove ammonia generated by manure and they should be cleaned
regularly. Animal waste should be used or composted promptly and properly.
Penn State Extension provides some specific measurements on coops: a minimum of 1 square foot
per pound of body weight for permanent indoor confinement areas, 3 cubic feet of air per pound of
body weight for permanent indoor confinement quarters and a minimum of 2 square feet per pound
of body weight for permanent outdoor fenced areas. They also recommend that structures be kept 25
feet from property lines in urban settings.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has information available on raising pigeons in small and
backyard flocks. The USDA notes that pigeons can be raised for meat production, exhibition or
sporting (homing pigeons, racing pigeons, etc.). Regarding housing, the USDA states, “it is
commonly recommended that you have 27 cubic feet of space for every pair of pigeons.” They further
note that any pigeon coop needs to account for squabs during the breeding season.
Regarding health concerns from fowl and poultry, the New York City Department of Health advises
that “diseases associated with pigeon droppings include cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis and
psittacosis.” They further note that the risk of contracting a pigeon-related disease is rare. The Centers
for Disease Control also addresses the disease risk from backyard poultry (including chickens and
ducks). Diseases that backyard poultry can spread include, “bird flu, campylobacter, E. coli,
histoplasmosis and salmonella.” The CDC has detailed guidance for those who want to keep backyard
poultry to ensure they remain healthy while doing so.
Mayor
Brian Pugh
Trustees
Stacey Nachtaler
Nora Moriarty Nicholson
Len Simon
Maria F. Slippen
Village Manager
Bryan T. Healy
Village Treasurer
Genette Toone
Village Clerk
Pauline DiSanto
Village Engineer
Vincent Salanitro, P.E.
Machine-extracted for search and reference — the original PDF is the authoritative version.