City Seeks Input on Allowing Backyard Chicken Coops

Published on: 2010/06/14 - in News

The City of Kingston has decided to seek public input during two meetings to decide whether to accept a proposal to allow backyard hens in urban areas.

The Arts, Recreation, and Community Policies Standing Committee (ARC) announced it will hold the two upcoming public meetings set to immediately follow the regularly scheduled meetings of this Committee.

A set of draft rules to administrate the keeping of backyard hens will be presented at a public meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 24 which will take place in the Woodbine Fire Hall at 905 Woodbine Rd.

An online public input survey for the draft rules will also be available to complete this Friday, June 18.

The matter will be readdressed at the following meeting of the ARC Committee on 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 21 in the Press Lounge at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, 53 Yonge St.

Written submissions are also encouraged and will be received at the beginning of the meetings. Comments will be accepted until July 24.

Backyard coops are commonly regarded as smaller coops typically surrounded by a fence – often constructed from chicken wire – that enables chickens some measure of freedom to roam the area and hunt insects and socialize.

Many people, especially in rural areas, keep a small flock of chickens to provide eggs and meat for themselves as opposed to having any commercial benefit.

However urbanites are increasingly deciding to raise chickens in their own yards. This has led to an increase in specialized chicken coops such as the Eglu, which are designed for urban environments with less space, and less of a utilitarian style.