Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve to allow chickens

Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve will be the first borough in Montreal to allow chickens in community gardens understrict rules.

Borough MayorRal Mnard says for now, only eight of the borough's community gardens will be allowed to raise chickens and must follow certain regulations. The gardens will be allowed to keep hens between May 1 and the end of September.

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"Some people had an interest in having a better knowledge about the behaviour of this animal and the relationship we can have when we live in a big city like Montreal,"Mnard says.

The chickens must be kept in a fenced-in area which is at least 10 metres from a building. The smell and mess from the chickens must be contained to the yard where the chickens are housed. Additionally, the chickens must remain closed in their shelter overnight between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m.and no chickens are allowed on private properties.

Franz Charneux,the president of the Soulignycommunity garden in the borough, has beenpushing the borough to allow chickens for years.

"It's a nice step forward, it's wonderful, but it's only a very small step. I hope there are many other steps to come further," he says.

The borough will adopt the new law at Tuesday's council meeting. Any interested garden should be able to have chickens by early July.