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Springfield officials lay out new chicken rules

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP)--Springfield officials have issued new rules for residents who want to raise chickens in the city limits.

The City Council narrowly approved a new chicken ordinance last week. On Oct. 12, the city issued a news release indicating the Springfield-Greene County Health Department will enforce the law.

The department says anyone who possesses a stray chicken can have animal control officers pick it up for free, but they won't go looking for strays.

The Springfield News-Leader reports that anyone who wants to drop a chicken off at the animal shelter must pay $20. But it's legal to discard chicken carcasses as trash.

Under the ordinance, someone can have up to six hens per tract of land, but no roosters are allowed.

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