Edmontons backyard chicken program to expand
Thanks to a decision by city council, backyard chickens will soon be a more common sight across Edmonton.
A pilot project of having 19 chicken coops was set up across the city throughout the previous year. It proved to be a success, and now it has been expanded to allow as many as 50 of them. These will be studied for two years to see how well they blend into the neighborhoods in which they are located.
Those who wish to get a permit to keep hens will need to take part in a training course to teach them how to properly care for the birds. Flocks would have to be between three to eight hens, and no roosters would be permitted. Booklet printing can be used to create materials for the course. It can also be used to produce information about the chickens that can be sent to homes in the vicinity of where the hens will be kept, so that they know what to expect and what to do should a problem arise.
As part of the initial stages of the project, the city canvassed the neighborhoods where the chicken coops were located. Of the people questioned, 85% noted that they were aware of the birds, had little problem with them and were in support of more being allowed throughout the city. However, they also felt that irresponsible owners should be dealt with and there should be strict regulations about doing so.
A pilot project of having 19 chicken coops was set up across the city throughout the previous year. It proved to be a success, and now it has been expanded to allow as many as 50 of them. These will be studied for two years to see how well they blend into the neighborhoods in which they are located.
Those who wish to get a permit to keep hens will need to take part in a training course to teach them how to properly care for the birds. Flocks would have to be between three to eight hens, and no roosters would be permitted. Booklet printing can be used to create materials for the course. It can also be used to produce information about the chickens that can be sent to homes in the vicinity of where the hens will be kept, so that they know what to expect and what to do should a problem arise.
As part of the initial stages of the project, the city canvassed the neighborhoods where the chicken coops were located. Of the people questioned, 85% noted that they were aware of the birds, had little problem with them and were in support of more being allowed throughout the city. However, they also felt that irresponsible owners should be dealt with and there should be strict regulations about doing so.