Backyard Hen bylaw flocking closer to reality in FSJ
Backyard hen keeping in Fort St. John moved a step closer to becoming reality on Monday afternoon, when council heard from staff about the results of their research this summer.
Community Safety Manager Erin Ferris and Director of Public Safety Robert Norton were tasked with looking into the supports available – including options for surrender and disposal, should the need arise – to those who want to raise backyard chickens in the municipality.
After combing through the bylaws of municipalities from Prince George to the Yukon, they found no specific mention of the surrendering of chickens, Ferris told Council during the Committee of the Whole meeting on October 27.
As for disposal of chickens, Chetwynd’s 2023 Animal Responsibility Bylaw states that “deceased Hens must be disposed of by delivering them to a veterinarian, landfill in a sealed bag, a farm, an abattoir or other facility with the ability to lawfully dispose of the carcass.”
With no abattoir in the North Peace, Ferris contacted all the local vets who confirmed that they could dispose of hens, but at a cost to the owner.
According to Ferris, another challenge to allowing residents to keep hens in the city are the biosecurity requirements for chickens, which “require compliance with a highly pathogenic avian flu protocol” which includes a 14-day quarantine for any incoming fowl.
Councillor Jim Lequiere, who was behind the request for staff to investigate hen keeping in the city, pointed out that although it’s not cut and dry, it can be done.
“Other communities do it, and do it quite well, with certain bylaws in place,” he said.
Councillor Sarah MacDougall was interested in learning the approximate lifespan of chickens, and whether the other local communities which allow hens have experienced any issues.