We started this blog last year as a central point for people interested in legalizing backyard chickens in Vancouver. At the time, we had one enthusiastic chicken keeper, Heather Havens, share her experience and knowledge with folks eager to get prepared for the eventual bylaw change.
Sadly for us Heather has moved back to Portland, her enthusiasm along with her. Most of the resources on this site are taken from her personal experience. But now, it is time to start building our own local knowledge on keeping urban hens in Vancouver.
That is, if the community feels that this resource is worthwhile. At the moment I’m keeping the blog barely alive off of the side of my desk. I can envision a much expanded site with resources and information updated regularly, and maybe forums so that community members can discuss the ins and outs of raising healthy chickens.
So, what do you say Vancouver, should we keep at it? If so, what would you like to see on the site?
Let us know and we’ll do our best to keep the site alive.
Note: Comments are moderated so please have patience once you respond. We will moderate as quickly as possible.
Best wishes,
Jeff
Site Admin
I’m starting up a business building coops and other backyard garden structures, and am myself a city chicken hobbyist. I think that although there is a wealth of information on the internet regarding chicken care etc, what is most valuable about your site is a forum for LOCAL resources based in Vancouver for it’s resident enthusiasts. I’d be interested in seeing such a thing created/surviving from the experiences this site represents. Please contact me if I can help in that regard- henhives@gmail.com.
This resource is not worthwhile in it’s current state.
Its old and out dated and good information is difficult to find.
Take Nate’s advice and make it Vancouver ONLY. So that means getting rid of Heather Havens stuff, because she lived in surrey, and not vancouver, and she wasn’t even a Canadian citizen !
Put up quality links to qualified Canadian information sites so you can be a good RESOURCE for the VANCOUVER chicken community who have no local experience due to the ban, and poor examples of public educators who flaunt they’re ignorance yet plug business.
It would make sense to have a Vancouver site. Just recently we have built our coop, and tried to get heritage chickens, harder than you think. It would be good to have contacts, resources, etc. on what Vancouverites might face in getting good chickens and information.
It also would be good for people to have information on how to form co-op buying groups for feed or straw or whatever rather than reinventing the wheel for each individual family. The more people do it together the easier it gets.
Since the by-law has pass, my family will be keeping chickens very soon. We’ll have to build the pen first. My parents have kept chickens for a good part of their lives and look forward to their input.
Keep the site going. I think it’ll grow interest as more people jump onboard.
The sharing of local resources would be great. The co-op where I live will have chickens; we are just starting to build the coop. Where can one buy youngish chickens locally? Best places for feed etc. This site would be really valuable in this way. People could share their pictures as they build their coops. I hope you can keep this site going.
Village Vancouver is doing some great work with this – perhaps best to forward people there so it’s all ‘under one coop’?
see http://villagevancouver.ning.com/group/vvfoodgroupcoopcoops
I didn’t find Village Vancouver all that fascinating. For one thing, I find the ‘ning’ interface rather irritating (and I’m also hesitant about ning’s commitment to privacy). self-hosted WordPress seems much nicer.
If you’re in need of hosting or any Wordpress help to keep this site going and/or expand its relevance, I might be willing to help out, though I’m not keen on making a full time job of it.
The City’s official website has been updated with new info, including the guidelines, bylaws, and resources which I’ve yet to check out. Registration for hen owners is also there.
http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/socialplanning/initiatives/foodpolicy/projects/chickens.htm#steps
I was looking forward to this site moving forward in light of the new bylaws. I would be happy to volunteer my enthusiasm and do what I can to pick up where Heather left off. I’m co-convening the Village Vancouver chicken group and I agree that it has its limitations. I’d like to be able to use this site as a reference and VV as a networking tool.
OMG, this is so great !
Jeff,
I’d like to see the site morph into something where chicken owners can share information and ask questions via a forum, and where local resources can be listed.
I have chickens coming soon, and don’t have the feed or a bale of straw yet, and I am wondering where to get it.
I built a chicken coop via plans online – would there be interest in home-builders reviewing plans, and the co-op that resulted (pictures and all)? Where did you get your chickens?
Reviews of books on chickens – I’ve borrowed and read a few from the library.
There is so much that could be put here to support urban chicken owners in Vancouver and surrounding areas.
I would be happy to help organize some part of the site if that would help.
I think the site needs an upgrade.
I think your readers would very much like this New York Times story about “The return of the prodigal chicken” . A lovely and well written story about our chicken friends in the Big Apple.
It can be found here.
http://thechronicleherald.ca/TheNovaScotian/1226174.html