Allowing chickens in Saanich

Council moves ahead with chicken bylaw
By Keith Vass - Saanich News

Fowl tempers erupted at a Saanich council meeting Monday night, sometimes drowning out the discussion.

The offending parties had to be caged and kept outside the door to prevent them from ruffling too many feathers.

But while two hens -- brought by their owners to listen in as council discussed a motion to legalize urban hen keeping -- made their voices heard, more than 20 supporters sat quietly.

“Many of us, myself included, have lost touch with the Earth,” said Coun. Dean Murdock, who introduced the motion to have staff draft options to amend Saanich's animal control bylaw. It currently prohibits keeping fowl on lots smaller than 12,000 square feet.

Murdock said allowing chickens on smaller lots will help Saanich move toward its goal of being a more sustainable community and will encourage local food production.

The idea didn't meet much resistance. Coun. Judy Brownoff said regulations are needed to address concerns such as noise, mistreatment of the animals, disposing of dead birds and worries over impacts on property value.

But the vote in favour of moving the process along was unanimous. A report should come back in about a month.

Coun. Vic Derman suggested urban chickens could be just the beginning of a new era of urban agriculture in Saanich, one in which even the municipality could take part.

“There is no reason why we have to plant all ornamentals in our parks, street trees that don't bear fruit,” Derman said. “There are all sorts of opportunities.”