Chickens will roost in Waterloo as council drops longtime ban

Waterloo residents can now pay $25 a year to city hall to put a chicken coop in their backyard.

You may keep up to four domestic hens but no roosters. Eggs can’t be sold and home slaughter is forbidden. The coop must be 1.5 metres from any lot line. Council voted in April to reverse a decade-long ban on backyard chickens, pending regulations that the council approved Monday. Hen-keepers will have access to an online education package to help them care for the chickens and the coop. Care will also be guided by the city’s animal control bylaw. The city hosted an online survey that, although not statistically representative, found 63 percent support for backyard hens.

Supporters of backyard chickens said the top appeal is fresh household eggs, fun and education, and chickens as pets. Opponents cited top concerns as rodents, smell, health and noise. Kitchener allows backyard hens but Cambridge, Woolwich and Wellesley forbid urban chickens.

Having chickens is no easy task and takes lots of work and time. There are many costs from having a proper weather-equipped chicken coop that will put you back many hundreds of dollars to feed and medication if needed. Then there is keeping things clean. There are many ups and downs of backyard chicken rearing so do the research before you enter the chicken adventure….Ed

Source: Jeff Outhit Record/Photo: Scott Sayre Flicker