Improving food security is top of mind these days, prompting all sorts of initiatives that encourage people to produce their own food.
Raising backyard chickens in the city for egg production is one such initiative.
A few years ago one of our next door neighbours in the middle of Saskatoon told us they would like to raise a few hens in their backyard and wanted to make sure we weren’t going to rat them out to the city’s bylaw enforcement department.
That’s because you can’t legally raise chickens in Saskatoon, but as are mainly bylaws, the rule’s enforcement is basically complaint based. That means that as long as no one complains, you can get away with it.
Read Also
Agriculture needs to prepare for government spending cuts
As government makes necessary cuts to spending, what can be reduced or restructured in the budgets for agriculture?
We said yes, with the caveat that one whiff of chicken poop wafting over from the other side of the fence would prompt a quick phone call to city hall.
A coop was built, but in the end the project was abandoned before it got started.
Urban egg production is easier in other municipalities.
For example, the City of Edmonton issues hen-keeping licenses under its Urban Hens Program.
Applicants must complete a city-approved urban hen-keeping course and are urged to have support and assistance from a recognized mentor for the first year.
This is important, I think, because while smell and noise are the obvious issues with raising chickens in the city, it’s the animal welfare problem that I would be most worried about.
We ran an interesting story on page 44 of the Feb. 9 issue by freelance writer Tara Klager about raising backyard chickens. According to the story, proper ventilation and humidity control are the most important things to think about when deciding to raise chickens in your backyard or acreage.
It’s not good enough to just throw up a wooden building, like what happened on the other side of my fence, and toss in a few hens.
Raising livestock is not the same as trying your hand at gardening for the first time. These are living, breathing creatures with complex needs.
City dwellers may like the idea of collecting eggs in their backyard instead of buying them at the grocery store, but will a city-approved training course be enough to turn them into responsible chicken producers?
It’s something I worry about.
