City council to reopen backyard chicken pilot project debate

calgary.ctvnews.ca
April 26, 2015
By Ryan White

The practise of raising chickens remains illegal within Calgary city limits but that has not stopped hundreds of citizens from running afoul of the law. Now, the members of city council are set to debate steps toward allowing backyard coops.

Paul Housley operates a henhouse in the backyard of his Calgary home. In 2014, Housley was fined $100 for his illegal egg production setup but Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services allowed the chickens to stay pending city hall’s decision on a backyard chicken ranching pilot project.

On Monday, councillors will reopen discussions on an urban hens pilot project, a program rejected in 2010 by an 11-3 vote.

Ward 3 councillor Jim Stevenson voted against the project in 2010 and maintains there is an appropriate place for chickens within Calgary but it’s not in a residential yard.

“I believe an urban setting is good for cooking and eating,” said Stevenson. “I don't believe it’s good for raising animals or chickens so if someone wants to have a little mini farm, then get an acreage.”

Should council approve the pilot project, to the dismay of Stevenson, Calgary would join Edmonton as a similar program is currently underway in the provincial capital. Several Canadian cities have permitted urban henhouses including Red Deer, Vancouver and Victoria.

Paul Hughes, the president of the Canadian Liberated Urban Chicken Club, says council’s approval would not result in drastic changes in Calgary neighbourhoods.

“It's not going to be a huge stampede of people coming to use urban hens,” said Hughes. “The number they are taking about, very arbitrary, is 20 families to study for one year.

“Allowing 20 families in a city with 250,000 dwellings? I don't think that’s a big stretch.”

If council rejects the idea, Housley says he will abide by the rules and his egg laying hens will become ‘chicken dinner by Tuesday’.