In reality, they already have.
It’s a known fact that many residents in Bossier City have backyard chickens, and roosters, which are currently illegal in the city limits.
But it may soon be legal to have chickens in Bossier backyards. Councilman Brian Hammons has introduced a chicken ordinance that can be adopted at the next council meeting.
The proposal limits the fowl to four hens, provides guidelines on chicken pens, makes sure the birds get food and water and prohibits them from being a public nuisance. Excessive noise from clucking and a bad smell from chicken pen is defined to be a “public nuisance.” Presumably that will depend on which way the wind is blowing at the time.
By exclusion the ordinance does NOT allow roosters. And for you city slickers, hens CAN produce eggs without the participation of roosters.
The Bossier ordinance is a bit thin in particulars. The Shreveport chicken ordinance is much more detailed. Additionally, Shreveport requires an annual permit for keeping birds.
The chickens cannot be raised for commercial purposes. Whether or not chicken owners can charge to have kids come pet and feed chickens is an open question. And then there is the question of the legality of bagging the chicken poop to sell as plant fertilizer.
Since Bossier City is going to spend money on a marketing campaign, this ordinance will provide another “plus” for the city. One can expect contests for the best backyard chicken coops, the most attractive hens, and the biggest backyard chicken eggs. Next time Mayor Chandler is on KEEL radio pitching Bossier City, he can tout that Bossier is “chicken friendly.”