Q:Someone living along Southeast Cesar Chavez Avenue in Portland lets their chickens regularly wander onto the road. It’s a busy street and they often tie up morning traffic. What can a driver do?
One of the myriad quirky things about Portland is that it’s legal to raise chickens (hens, at least) within the city limits. Thankfully, the relevant city ordinance proscribes roosters, which would likely create all sorts of “Welcome to the Third World!” issues, but yes, there are people in Portland who take raising chickens seriously.
If you’re not familiar with Portland, SE Cesar Chavez Avenue (formerly SE 39th Ave.) is one of the east side’s major north-south traffic arteries, running from near Johnson Creek to Fernhill Park. Not normally known as a place where the chicken might cross the road, I suppose it could happen…but it would likely get flattened before it reached the other side.
A: The joys of commuting in “Portlandia,” where chickens crossing the road are supposed to be hip. Or is it ironic? Anyhow, some urban Thoreau raising hens in his backyard obviously isn’t enlightened about Stumptown’s myriad animal regulations. “City code prohibits people from letting their livestock roam off their property,” said Portland Fire Bureau spokesman Paul Cora. His advice: Pull over and call the non-emergency public safety line (503-823-3333) to get police or Animal Control to the scene. I’m guessing the chickens won’t jive walk into rush hour after that.
So, before you let Colin (if you’ve seen Portlandia, you’ll get it) off his leash, remember that Portland may be a chicken-friendly place, but free-range chickens are beyond the pale. After all, no one in Irvington wants to flatten a wayward hen with their Range Rover, knowhutimean??
