Edmonton hatches expanded plans for backyard chickens

Chickens will soon be clucking away in neighbourhoods across Edmonton after the city expanded its urban hens pilot project on Monday.

After a year-long pilot project involving 19 backyard chicken coops, the city approved a plan to regulate urban hens that involves offering permits for a maximumof50 chicken coops across the city for the next two years to allow for further study.

In order to get a permit, hen-keepers will have to take a training course, build a coop that isn't too close to adjacent properties, have a manure-removal plan and notify their immediate neighbours.

A site inspection would also be required, once the coop has been constructed.

Roosters would still be outlawed, and flocks would be limited to three to eight hens.

'There's a demand out there'

The report wastabled at Monday's community services meeting, with councillorsMichael Walters and Andrew Andrew Knack voicing support for the expanded pilot and regulations, after the initial pilot project went well.

"There were a couple of stumbles but I think we learned fromthat,and there's a demand out there," Walters said.

"Frankly theres been some unknown number of unregulated henkeepers in the city of Edmonton for decades. So growing into the bylaw and giving us more capacity to make surethat everybody that's actually doing it is doing it properly is important."

Over the course of the pilot, which began in late 2014, animal control officers were called to respond to 12complaints at six of the pilot sites.

Five complaints focused on the sites attracting nuisance birds, four on hens being at large, two for excessive smell, and one for noise.

Participants, who had varying levels of experience with hens,received consent from their neighbours.

Anyone found breaking the bylaws surrounding the keeping and care of backyard hens is currently subject to a $100 fee. Walters said this is something that will be reviewed.

"If we have a problem or some repeat offenders, I think the fines can go up. But I think if we have repeat offenders, we should just revoke their licences."

The city canvassed neighbouring properties throughout the duration of the pilot project.

About 85 per cent of those surveyed said they were aware of the hens in their neighbourhood and supported a bylaw change to allow hens, but felt strongly there needed to be tight restrictions on dealing with irresponsible owners.

Some residents concerned about ethics

Karin Nelson voiced her concerns as a resident about expanding the pilot at Monday's community services committee meeting. She said she's worried about what will happen to the chickens once they stoplaying eggs.

"Right now there is no mechanism in place to ensure those hens are not slaughtered, not just let go into the river valley, out into the country," she said.

"There isn't a long term assurancethat those hensare going to be looked after.

"The city should certainly be encouraging urban farming interms of growing plants, front yard gardens, backyard gardens, but not when it includes animals."

Margaret Fisher, a veterinarian and organizer of the River City Chicken Collective, said hens can lay eggs for around six to seven years, depending on breed and conditions in which they live. They can live up to 10 years, she said.

Fisher said capping the number of permits to 50 chicken coops "makes perfectsense," and that mandatory educational seminars and the expenses of starting a proper coop which can be around $1,000 eliminates those who aren't serious about properly caring for their hens.

"I do believe the training is essential and very pleased the city has recognized that as well," Fisher said.

The pilot project demonstrated noise and odour from hens are no more a concern than from cats and dogs, she added,and said she believes those intending to build chicken coops should notify their neighbours.

"I think out of courtesy, it's nice to notify our immediate neighbours," Fisher said. "I don't foresee there being any problems with notifying them and it is perhaps a way of opening the door to engage in a fun discussion about having hens and eggs."