Annie Tuttle, 12, and her 10-year-old brother, William, of Salem hold two of their five chickens — Ziti, left, and Cora — in the backyard of their Federal Street home. While neighbors complained that keeping the fowl amounted to an illegal agricultural operation, the kids said the birds are just beloved egg-laying pets. The Board of Appeal agreed with the Tuttles, and the chickens can stay. Matthew Viglianti / Staff photo
