Papillion Family Fights to Keep Pet Chickens - FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; kptm.com |

Meghan McRoberts

PAPILLION (KPTM)- The Zivny family in Papillion has owned 11 chickens for almost 2 years, all of which are living in its back yard.

Steve Zivny says the chickens are just like pets. "It's really no different than having a couple dogs or a couple cats," said Zivny.

Neighbors say living next to the coop really isn't all that bad. Jeff Kaiser explained, "It's really not been an issue. I actually hear more cars going by with the loud bass thumping than I ever do of the chickens."

But a Papillion city ordinance doesn't allow chickens to live as pets on a residential property, and threatens to remove the chickens from the Zivny's home.

Officials with the city of Papillion say they working on updating the city's animal ordinance. They are considering an amendment to allow up to 4 chickens as requested by the Zivnys.  "I mean, we understand that we still need to make adjustments to the number we have, but we want to at least keep 4 here on our property, and we don't feel it should be that objectionable or a crime," explained Steve Zivny.

Zivny says they originally had no idea that the chickens weren't allowed. Firefighters responded to a fire near the back of their house, and noticed the chickens. They left them a warning.

Other cities in Nebraska, such as Bellevue, allow chickens with certain limits.

The Zivny's hope Papillion will follow suit.

The family will get to keep the chickens until a decision is made about the proposed amendment.

Council will discuss the issue on Tuesday. It will be up for a vote on Oct. 2.