Discussions

Is Brandon missing out?  
 
Only four chickens will produce about 20 fresh eggs a month.  
 
Hard times are upon us.  
 
Little wonder, then, that urban agriculture is emerging as one of the countries new growth industries.  
 
“It’s a different time now, and we have to think about being smart, responsible, and sustainable,” said a Vancouver supporter.  
 
“The neighbours think they’re really fun. The kids are interested, and they produce manure for your garden compost.”  
 
We talk about making our communities sustainable, and green, having a chicken or two in your back yard will give you healthy, and nearly free protien.  
 
Municipalities including Burnaby, and New Westminster already allow residents to raise chickens outdoors. So do American cities such as New York, Seattle, and Portland.  
 
Vancouver city staff workers are drafting new chicken keeping guidelines. For inspiration, they need only look at existing rules for local beekeepers.  
 
Four years ago, apiarists won the right to keep hobby hives in the city.  
 
No one seems to mind.  
 
Staff will certainly look to neighbouring cities such as Burnaby and Richmond, where backyard chicken coops have long been allowed.  
 
“Besides plenty of eggs, and the occasional carcass, these small operations generate only a few noise, and smell complaints each year”, says Domenic Losito, Regional Director of health protection for Vancouver Coastal Health, the city's public health services provider.  
 
A limit will be placed on the number of hens, and chicks allowed in any backyard.  
 
A ban on roosters will remain.  
 
What's more, Vancouver chicken wranglers will be expected to keep their birds tidy, refreshed, and relatively happy.  
 
Backyard butchering, and the disposal of chicken remains require further study before recommendations are put forward.  
 
Brandon has long had Garden plots, and they are now on the increase. The production of cackle berries is just an extension of this method of food production.  
 
Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/02/27/bc-chickens.html