Chickens in your backyard

(Photo of the chickens next door to my garden)

As it stands, we are only part way there for passing the by law allowing chickens into Vancouver's backyards. This past March, a vote was conducted by city council and motion passed to create "guidelines" for possessing chickens, in an urban setting, as pets and for consumption.

According to Food Policy Vancouver, "It is anticipated that the guidelines will look at best practices for humane treatment of backyard hens and for the protection of the health and welfare of citizens. This could include such issues as numbers of hens, the conditions that hens are kept in, whether a permit is required, details regarding any lot size requirements and sanitation requirements".

Benefits of raising chickens:

1) Eggs from well-tended backyard chickens are healthier.

2) Eggs from backyard chickens are tastier.

3) Chicken droppings enrich your compost.

4) Chickens provide natural insect control.

5) Their scratching for bugs is good for the soil.

6) Chickens are a great way to meet people and start conversations

7) Chickens are fun and interesting.

8) Backyard chickens provide lessons for children about responsibility and where food comes from.

9) hosting chickens promotes food security.

Much to my surprise, there has been significant opposition to chickens in backyards for the past 4 months. I encourage you to educate yourselves & voice your opinions. You can do so at:

www.chickensinvancouver.com/

www.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/socialplanning/initiatives/foodpolicy/projects/chickens.htm#ca

www.urbanchickens.org

What other cities allow chickens?

Other cities which allow chickens include New York (PDF, 167KB), Chicago, Portland, Seattle, Victoria (PDF, 70KB), Surrey (PDF, 2.34MB), and New Westminster (PDF, 99KB). A table of Canadian and American cities and their approach to chickens can be found here (PDF, 54KB). A separate listing of American municipal ordinances pertaining to chickens can be found here.

If you want to order chickens?

The first place I would look for heritage breed chicks, pullets, or
hens, is the FVPFA (Fraser Valley Poultry Fanciers Association):
http://www.fvpfa.org/

Southlands Farm. Jordon is a great young man, who with his family,
raises chicks, pullets and hens for people just like you and I. I
strongly recommend that you go to their farm and look for your
backyard chickens.
http://southlandsfarms.com/default.aspx

Art Knapp Surrey - http://www.artknapp.ca/ . They stock a semi wide
range of poultry, but they aren't in the best condition. The bird
contact there is Leila.

Lastly, but most fun. You are looking for heritage poultry to buy
during Fair Season. I think there are still some fairs left with
livestock in the area this Summer & Fall. Sometimes you can network at
the fair with the 4-kids and breeders that bring in their poultry, and
arrange to buy some from them after the fair.
http://www.bcfairs.ca/2009-FAIR-SCHEDULE-page-154.html
http://www.pne.ca/thefair/agriculture/index.htm

Advice from Heather at farm fol city folk...

" I don't normally recommend chicks to first-time hen owners. Chicks are very
fragile, are a big responsibility, and require a lot of time and
attention. I recommend first-time hen owners get pullets or hens.
Pullets are teen-age girl chickens, they are big enough to be hearty,
but not laying yet. They are still young and fun, but not fragile.
Full grown hens can be gotten from organic layer flocks that are about
to go through a normal cull cycle (They cull when they are 2 years
old. A two year old is still a decent enough layer for a city dweller,
though, and a great back yard pet), or on Craigslist, or found on a
feed store bulletin board".

Education

If you are interested in attending a Chickens 101 talk, class, or
workshop let me know, as we schedule them semi-regularly. We plan to
have one or two at the PNE, we'll be giving a talk at the Mad City
Chickens film showing/Stone Soup Fall Festival in Brittania Oct 17th,
and we'll be giving a class at Langara College Oct 27th 7-9.

If you want information on building coop?

http://www.wholesalechickencoops.com/chickencoop.html