With the blessing of the Fayette County Commission, a committee will research the idea of allowing female chickens to be raised in all zoning categories.

Current county rules deem chickens as “livestock” meaning they may only be raised on lots zoned agricultural-residential, which have a minimum lot size of 5 acres.

The suggestion came from County Commissioner Allen McCarty, who will chair the committee looking into the matter.

Commissioner David Barlow said his concern was to limit the number of hens on smaller lots to as few as three.

Commissioner Charles Oddo said he wants to make sure the chickens don’t bother the residents’ neighbors with sound or perhaps any infirmities they could potentially spread.

“If those can all be resolved, that’s good,” Oddo said.