Chickens in Vancouver

Chickens need houses because: Chickens need protection from predators. Chickens need protection from heat in summer and cold in winter. Chickens and owners are happier when the hens have a consistent, clean, convenient, and private place to lay eggs. Chickens instinctively go to the best and safest shelter that they can find at sunset, and if they have a house to go to they will use it, and you will have a nice safe and warm place to confine them until morning.

Chickens need fenced chicken runs or yards because: To protect chickens from predators. To prevent chickens from trespassing, thereby annoying people other than their owners. Both predators and annoyed neighbors may injure, steal, or kill chickens. To protect chickens from danger, such as mechanical or electrical hazards, roads, toxic plants and substances, or cliffs.

CITY OF RICHMOND – ANIMAL, BIRD & BEEKEEPING REGULATION – BYLAW NO. 7137

All outdoor animals and poultry must have:

• Adequate ventilation, and shelter from sun, wind, cold, and moisture.
• Shelter which provides sufficient shade to protect the animal from the direct rays of the sun at all times; and which is cleaned and sanitized not less than daily, of all excrement.
• Adequate space for movement and exercise.
• Adequate and clean food and water. Food receptacles must e kept disinfected and free of excretia.
• A clean and hygienic living area (house and yard), or there will be fines and perhaps forfeiture of the animals.
• Access to necessary veterinary medical care when such animal or bird exhibits signs of pain or suffering.

1. General Prohibition
1. A person must not keep poultry, in, upon, or under any structure used for human habitation.
2. Every person keeping poultry must ensure that:
1. such poultry does not create a nuisance; and
2. all lands and premises where such poultry is kept, are maintained in a sanitary condition at all times, and that excrement is not permitted to accumulate and cause, in the opinion of the Medical Health Officer, an objectionable odour or nuisance. Animal Control Bylaw 7932

Summary: no chickens on residential lots allowed unless lot is half an acre or more, and no nuisance allowed by animals; meaning no loud roosters or smelly coops

Proponents of backyard Hens in Richmond are gathering to try to change these bylaws to allow hens on all residential lots, regardless of lot size. Please join us.

Most often and most practically, backyard chicken keepers will have a hen house that sits inside of a chicken run or chicken yard (this includes chicken tractors, which are movable chicken house and run enclosures).

The house will be built so that it can be well secured at night (a 3 year old child couldn’t get in), and it will will keep hens warm, dry, comfortable, and well ventilated. The house will be constructed so it is easy to clean.

The house should have at a minimum:

• 1.5 sq ft inside per hen (1 sq ft per bantam)
• 6 – 10 inches of perch per hen
• 1 nest box or area per 4-5 hens
• the yard should have 8 sq ft per hen, less for bantams

The yard or run will be accessible from the hen house. The run/yard will be securely fenced and gated. It is best to bury the fence, and bury it at an angle (flaring away from the hen yard, under ground). It is a good idea to cover the yard/run with some kind of mesh, netting, or screen to prevent hawks and eagles from poaching your flock.