Chickens in Vancouver

Just shy of 100 people have signed our petition in support of an amended animal control bylaw in the City of Vancouver that would allow residents to keep chickens on residential lots. Keeping spreading the word and here’s some choice comments from some of the signers on why they want to see backyard chickens legalized.

I already try and keep my carbon footprint as small as I can by doing most of my shopping within my neighbourhood and purchasing locally grown food whenever possible.  I have started a garden and I do a lot of preserving.
Keeping chickens will serve a number of purposes in our household.  They will be a good source of protein by providing free run organic eggs for my family, they will provide good manure to fertilise my garden, they will consume table scraps – particularly those that are not compostable (like cooked food and baked goods), and they will help keep my yard and garden weed and pest free.
Properly kept chickens should not smell, or attract vermin.

More Comments after the jump.

Please take a relatively objective stand here, and support chickens in backyards even if you feel you must develop more guidelines and/or permits in order to give an opportunity to run a pilot project at the very least. The folks who are most negatively aspected about urban chickens  are, I believe, people whose native communities (IMO), did not share the healthy approach to raising two or three chickens and caring for them as one would care for any other pet. I agree, that in many communities, the conditions were and are such that few of us would like to invite that experience into our cities. Please give this a chance. Other cities (Please see the latest Sunset Magazine issue) are satisfied and even proud of their backyard chickens – all is not doom and gloom.   It really can work.  Thank you!

I won’t be raising chickens myself, but I would have no issue if my neighbours wanted to. I think it’s a great opportunity to enhance the local food chain. Please vote in favour of this bylaw amendment.

I have urban chickens. They are very easy to care for properly, they are great pets, my neighbors have always loved them, they are clean, quiet, and provide wonderful eggs and compost. They don't attract rodents or predators, and are not a threat for avian flu. Please stand by your decision to allow small backyard flocks of urban hens in Vancouver. Thank you.

This city needs to get real, as far as food production goes. Back yard chickens are such a nautural asset to food production, and some choices for people, that are healthy and empowered. To allow a few citizens to revoke this act would be a huge backward step. Let us be a city that choices food, and choice, and lead by example! The time is now for world change, not 10 years from now, for the sake of the generations that will follow us we have to change! Thank you

The fact that you are getting a vocal reaction is a sign you are on the right track to making some progress in creating a sustainable city.

“All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” Arthur Schopenhauer – German philosopher (1788 – 1860)
Thanks!