Lethbridge City Administration to investigate possibility of backyard hen pilot project

“Some of them are just from an academic perspective interested in having that opportunity, and others who are dedicated and want to be hen keepers in the city. I think there is a lot of support in the community for it.”

Baird made her case to council by addressing some of the concerns that have been expressed in the past, including the smell that can arise from keeping a chicken coop.

“It is true in factory farms when you have a bunch of hens together, hundreds in a barn, they do get quite smelly. Urban pilot programs would limit the amount of hens in a backyard enclosure…. when they’re in such low numbers and low densities, they’re actually quite easy to keep clean, and [there’s] very little smell associated with them.”

Baird also talked about the noise potential, indicating that there does not need to be a rooster in the coop for the chickens to lay between 5 and 7 eggs each per week during peak production.

She also described how the cities of Red Deer, Edmonton and Airdrie do not allow for the slaughter of birds within city limits once they slow down or stop producing eggs. Rather, they must be taken to a farm outside of the city to be slaughtered.

Pest control was another concern that was addressed.

“They absolutely destroy anthills, nightcrawlers, worms, all the good stuff. Anything you don’t want in your garden they will look after for you.

She also told council that it was a myth that urban poultry breeds disease, indicating that if the chicken is healthy, the excrement is healthy and makes a very good compost ingredient with other household waste.

According to her research on the City of Red Deer’s policies, anyone wanting to raise urban hens must apply for a yearly license, take a course on raising hens, build coops and runs according to specific guidelines to keep predators out, they can not sell the eggs produced for profit, and they are subject to yearly inspections.

Hens raised in other urban environments are also sourced through regulated sellers, auctions or regulated chick dispensaries, and only certain breeds are allowed.

Councillor Blaine Hyggen, who cited his own experience with the stench of some chicken enclosures, said he would not vote for the initiative because it wasn’t right for the community.

Councillor Ryan Parker also told council he did not believe that such a program belonged within Lethbridge City limits.

However, Councillor Belinda Crowson told council she believed referring Baird’s request to administration to investigate the feasibility of such a pilot project was in line with a greater attempt to create better and more sustainable and secure local food systems.

“Here is a proposal before us, that I do think we owe to our community to investigate, to start community dialogue about what urban agriculture means, about what that would look like and to see where people are on this.”

She also cited the potential, if a pilot project is eventually approved, of using the initiative as a teaching tool for school children.

Mayor Chris Spearman also said the issue should be fairly explored, and if there are other communities doing it, there could be a good opportunity to learn from those other cities.

The motion for administration to look at options for creating a potential pilot project was approved in a 6-3 vote, with Hyggen, Parker, and Councillor Joe Mauro voting against it.

by Lara Fominoff @LaraFominoff on Twitter

Lethbridge City Administration to investigate possibility of backyard hen pilot project

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