SR 06:015 - Laserfiche WebLink

Life Cycle Staff researched issues of noise, routine activities, and life span of chickens 0 Noise Staff has conducted various noise readings frol'n the previous projects to provide an understanding of the type, sound levels, and noise fluctuations neighbors l'nay experience 0 Staff used a noise lueter vvhich lueasures noise levels in decibelso At one site, staff took noise readings; the first noise reading vvas to get a base reading ~ithout chicken or other distinguishing noises, such as the ~ind chilues, etco This reading produced a dBA (decibels, A-level) of 490 The second noise reading vvas taken vvith a nonual tone conversation oftvvo people; this reading vvas approxiluately 55 dBA (dependent on the speaker)o The third noise reading vvas taken vvith the conversation and the vvind chilue luusic, resulting in a 68 dBAo Finally, a noise reading vvas taken including the chickenso Although the chickens vvere not audible for IUOst of the visit, they luade a luinilual level of noise vvhen staff prodded thelu to obtain a recordable noise reading that exceeded the base readingso Prodding involved handling the chickens and causing thelu to be nervous, vvhich resulted in a squavvking of sortso These noises registered a 63 dBA vvhen standing t~o feet avvay frolu the chickeno At approxiluately nine feet avvay, the noise level vvould not register. These readings are representative of the noise levels that could be expected a neighborhood to experienceo The PMC lilUits the dBA in residential districts to no greater then 60 dBA, vvith a daytilue exception up to 70 dBA at the property lineo Staff feels that the noise readings not only shovv that the noise readings are ~ithin the luaxiluum allovved by the PMC, but that they are also generally less than the volulue of a nonual conversationo Staff believes that the cackling of the chickens vvill not be a distinguishable or disturbing noise and is vvithin the liluits as set by the Municipal Code. Dailv routine and ezz vroduction Hens lay one egg each per day 0 The activity of producing an egg requires the hen to nest (in a nesting box or other suitable place) and involves a short strenuous push frolu the heno The hens are IUOSt audible during this activity 0 The process to lay one egg takes about ten luinutes vvith only a luinute or so of cackling ( chicken noise) after the egg is laid. Chickens are routine aniluals vvhen it COlues to the egg-producing processo They also prefer luoderate teluperatures and seek out shade at the hottest tilues of the day. Hens sleep during the night and are in their coop shortly after sunseto Case No, PRZ-30 Planning COlnlnission Page - 3 -