North Dumfries ponders backyard chickens

NORTH DUMFRIES — Backyard hens are being considered in North Dumfries, and the township wants to hear from residents about allowing chickens in urban areas.

“We’re just trying to find out if this is something people want in our community,” said township planner Michelle Schaefle.

A public open house is being held on Thursday at the North Dumfries Community Complex from 4 to 8 p.m. There’s also an online survey at northdumfries.formbuilder.ca/Backyard-Hens.

The township started looking into backyard hens last summer after a resident came to speak to council.

“Currently, the township doesn’t allow it within urban areas,” Schaefle said.

But she said there’s a lot of interest in the topic. Already more than 200 people have completed the survey. The public session will provide information on the benefits of backyard hens and the concerns, such as disease, odour and noise.

Along with asking people if they want chickens to be permitted, the township wants to learn more about the conditions they would be allowed under. For example, should the birds be allowed in urban areas, such as Ayr, or more rural settings like Roseville.

Staff will analyze the feedback from the public and bring recommendations back to council for consideration this summer or in September.

The options are to keep township bylaws the same, permitting hens only in agricultural areas, or do an 18-month pilot project and then the township could decide if the trial could be expanded or change the zoning bylaw.

Kitchener has an urban chicken bylaw allowing a maximum of four hens per home. Cambridge, like North Dumfries, started a public process to consider allowing backyard hens. They’re prohibited in Waterloo unless they were grandfathered in before a new animal control bylaw was enacted.