Medicine Bow Increases Number of Egg-Laying Fowl Residents May Keep

APRIL 22, 2025|

Photo – Eggs and chickens – Bigfoot99 file photo

The Town of Medicine Bow has doubled the number of egg-laying fowl residents may keep.

At last month’s Medicine Bow Town Council meeting, resident Matthew Leonard asked the governing body to increase the maximum number of allowable chickens from six to eight. Leonard said permitting residents to keep more chickens will help alleviate the high price of eggs.

The governing body said they would take Leonard’s suggestion into consideration.

During the April 14^th Medicine Bow Town Council meeting, Mayor Justin George introduced an updated chicken ordinance, announcing that the new regulations increase the allowable number of egg-laying fowl per household from six to ten, but leaves the rest of the ordinance untouched.

Councilwoman Crystal Mayfield elaborated that egg-laying fowl includes both chickens and ducks.

Medicine Bow Town Attorney Cameron Smith said most municipalities seem to set a maximum of six chickens and asked whether allowing additional fowl might lead to noise problems.

Mayor George said chickens are generally not very noisy. The mayor explained that municipalities base their chicken limits on the size of the permitted coop.

Councilwoman Kristi Wickizer suggested amending the ordinance to allow a maximum of twelve chickens, assuming the resident has enough space for an adequately sized coop.

Mayor George supported the increased limit, provided that property owners comply with the town’s building codes.

Per Medicine Bow ordinance, each chicken must be provided with nine square feet of living space. Additionally, chicken coops must be located at least 20 feet from a property line, unless the resident obtains written consent from their neighbor to build it closer. If residents are able to meet those requirements, Mayor George said they will be permitted to have the maximum number of chickens.

The mayor asked the Town Council to decide how many chickens they will allow, ten or twelve. After a brief discussion, the governing body settled on a maximum of twelve chickens.

The Medicine Bow Town Council unanimously voted to approve Ordinance 3-2025, increasing the max number of chickens residents may keep from six to twelve on the first reading. All ordinance changes must be passed three times during three separate public hearings.

If no additional amendments are required, the ordinance may go into effect after the June 9^th Medicine Bow Town Council meeting.