Local activist group Citizens of Ebey’s Reserve, or COER, was the target of fowl speculation on social media in posts accusing the group of asking the Island County Board of Health to ban chickens on Whidbey Island.

“Don’t take my chickens!” reads one post circulating on various Facebook pages.

The post goes on to claim that COER blamed “chickens on polluting ground water and the marine wildlife” at the board’s monthly public meeting on Tuesday and that the group wants to “ban all chickens on the island.”

Ken Pickard, president of COER, said these accusations are simply false, noting that no members of the group made this request. The group is concerned about a “bird” of a different feather — the Navy jets that make touch-and-go landings at the OLF Coupeville and disturb some people with their noise.

In response to this issue — or non-issue, to be precise — Island County Commissioner Jill Johnson weighed in on Facebook to correct the record.

“No need to write me … this information is not accurate at all,” Johnson said.

“No. 1, there was a presentation by staff on water quality and fecal matter sourcing. It was determined that it is expensive and inconclusive … and chicken produces more Bacteria than cows in their discharge,” Johnson said.

No. 2, the COER conversation was about eliminating airplanes … not chickens. I don’t support the airplane argument … and the idea of banning chickens NEVER came up,” Johnson said, adding, “all is fine.”

Whidbey Island resident Meg Hilkey took to Facebook, posting on numerous pages that COER was seeking a ban on chickens. Johnson’s comment was in response to one of Hilkey’s erroneous post.

Johnson weighed in because Hilkey’s posts urge that a pro-chicken letter writing campaign be directed at Johnson.