The case for urban hens in Havre

As a new resident and homeowner in Havre, I was surprised to learn the city does not allow backyard chickens within the city limits. Historically, throughout the U.S., as small towns transformed into small cities, they prohibited livestock within city limits, including horses, dairy cows, rabbits and chickens. But over the past two decades there has been a marked shift to allow “urban hens,” even in very large cities. I lived for 10 years in Billings, which is one of more than a dozen major cities in Montana that allow urban hens. The four largest are Billings, Kalispell, Missoula and Miles Ci...