Back in seminary one of my big papers was about the 1962 dispute between the U.S. and the EU involving 'broilers', conveniently packaged chickens still popular in most households. It was dubbed the 'chicken war' and involved numerous trade issues of the day. A great exercise in study for an aspiring political science student. 
As I get older it's more common to accept my bucolic roots then have those international aspirations. So when a friend and former neighbor told me about their recent troubles with a couple chickens they had on their property, I put together a letter of support for their effort. A few years back we had another set of chicken issues crop up in the local and possibly national news. It's nice to look out at the world and try to tackle the real big issues like war and national debt, but sometimes it's nice to help a neighbor and keep it real. It's also nice to be known as the local libertarian who can and is willing to speak up about these issues. Here's the letter;
Town of Chatham
Chatham, NY
November 16, 2006
To Whom It May Concern:
As a former resident of the Town of Chatham and a property owner therein, I would like this letter submitted to the minutes of the public meeting on November 16, 2006 regarding the dispute involving chickens in or around Kinderhook Lake.
My grandparents bought a home on Kinderhook Lake in the 1940’s. Their expectation of a retirement home away from the madness of the Bronx was realized with due diligence and aspiration. Since passing away, their legacy has been transferred to successive generations and we still enjoy the property on many levels. That enjoyment and commitment throughout the years has been diminished by the encroaching expectations and demands of the state and local government.
It is my hope that someday, private property may be enjoyed and cared for again without the brutal force of government’s mandates and approval. While it is common for courts to rule in favor of municipalities on the basis of general health and welfare provisions, it is the assertion of some that adequate protection of self and property can be achieved in an equitable manner via civil court procedures.
Instead, it has been all too common for citizen legislators to conduct the business of regulation and control of property as per the needs of a few vocal partisans. As a result of the political process these laws are often ambiguously worded and subsequently interpreted at the expense of liberty and basic property rights. It is my assertion that citizen legislators ought to reflect the common needs of privacy and property rights as of equal value to the interests of aesthetic management, perceived threats or derived general interest assertions. Let the McKay's raise chickens. Let the neighbor pursue complaints in court.
Sincerely,
Eric Sundwall
Libertarian Party of NY At-Large-State-Representative
Libertarian National Committee Region 7 Alternate