Town Grounds Chicken Plan
The feathers have settled, and the verdict is in – urban hens won’t be making their roost in the Town of Hanna.
After a thorough public engagement process, the proposed Animal Control Bylaw, which would have allowed residents to keep backyard hens, has been clipped. Residents voiced their concerns loud and clear, with 68% voting against laying hens within town limits.
Key concerns crowed from the community included the fear of attracting unwanted pests and predators, a potential drop in property values, and the challenge of enforcing the bylaw. Some residents also squawked about the smell and health risks associated with urban chickens. In short, residents weren’t keen to ruffle feathers over fowl in their backyards.
While this article makes use of light-hearted wordplay, the issue raised was taken seriously by both the Council and the community. The public engagement process which resulted in a report titled What We Heard, revealed legitimate concerns around health, property impacts, and enforcement, all of which informed Council’s decision.
At their October 8, 2024, meeting, Council made two important motions regarding the proposed bylaw. First, they accepted the report titled “What We Heard Phase II Animal Control Bylaw #1035 October 2024” for information. Secondly, they directed Administration to remove the sections and fees related to urban hen-keeping from the draft Animal Control Bylaw #1035-2024. In addition, they called for a revision of the existing Animal Control Bylaw #835 to bring it up to today’s standards, with plans to review the changes at a future Council meeting.
This decision reflects the community’s feedback and ensures that the bylaw better aligns with current needs and expectations. For those interested in reading more about the process and the full details of the report, you can access the What We Heard Report here.