Backyard Chicken Coops: Good Idea or Not?

The issue of whether or not urban centers should allow backyard chicken coops has sparked an ongoing debate in my neck of the woods (insert "crying foul" joke here).

Vancouver city council recently amended an animal control bylaw, making it legal to keep chickens on many more residential properties. Residents who own land of less than an acre are allowed up to 4 hens in their backyards.

Other urban areas in the US have already approved such a by-law including New York, Seattle and Portland.

Here are some of the stipulations that come with owning chickens;

Coops must be between four square feet and ten square feet in size, and cannot be kept in front yards or on apartment or condominium balconies.Other fowl such as roosters, ducks and turkeys are not allowed, and eggs produced by the hens cannot be sold commercially.When hens reach the end of their lifespan of up to six years, they cannot be killed by the owner, but must be taken to a slaughterhouse or veterinarian for slaughter or euthanasia.Backyard Coops: The ProsUrban sustainability: fresh, locally grown eggs can reduce carbon footprint.Good for communities and families as an educational tool.Instil discipline in children.Backyard Coops: The ConNoise: backyard chickens can produce noise and in smaller quarters neighbors may not appreciate it.Odour: (yes I'm going to use another "foul" joke).Disease: we had a run of avian flu a few years back and the little critters can spread disease.Urban predators: chickens may attract coyotes, foxes and other geographically-specific predators.

Where do you come out on backyard chicken coops?

Image source: laura_zz

Food Media Watch backyard chicken coops free range chickens 18 Comments Robert on 4 Nov 2010

And this is their idea of progress.

Please, proceed to disguise the descent into mediocrity, poverty, and socialism... as increased "sustainability." It's clearly fooling us all.

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