Chicken coops, not so popular in La Crosse

Only 17 renewed permits

After five years of allowing chicken coops, there’s still not many of them in La Crosse.  

The La Crosse city council agreed in 2011 to allow keeping up to five chickens in a yard under certain conditions.

There was concerns at the time that the egg layers would pop up in every backyard and turn the city into a virtual urban farm. Not really even close.  

Those looking to renew their chicken permits for 2017 total just 17.

This apparent lack of interest comes with recent proposals that the city expand the type of animals you can keep in your backyard. Rabbits and bees would be a couple of examples. With enough acreage, however, even horses, pigs and goats have been recommended.