Backyard Chickens

I think with the increased density in our city living next to a home that had backyard chickens would be challenging in terms of the smell, noise and the presence of predatory wildlife. I question the qualifications of those who would want backyard chickens and this would necessitate the need for supervision from city officials. Such a cost would be born by taxpayers, who like myself do not support backyard chickens.

In short, chicken coops have no place in the modern urban environment.

There was once a time when people living in cities did have livestock - chickens for eggs and meat, and maybe a cow for milk. That was for people who once had large properties and likely had a horse shed out in their deep back yards for parking the main mode of transport at the time. It was simply part of reality in the day when supermarkets did not exist and refrigeration to keep food fresh such as milk and eggs was difficult and expensive. Now we live on relatively small lots with new ones, even in detached housing, only 20 feet or less from the neighbor's yard to the back of the house.

Also of concern is the potential to attract pests, particularly the ubiquitous Norway rat that is a constant problem in our area and for which I have to take measures repeatedly to control them, including this week. Such rats are attracted by food sources such as spilled bird seed under feeders, open compost bins and anything producing excrement and litter such as would do chickens. People in days of yore put up with rats, but also put up with the diseases they carried. Yes, the city says that rat control is a property owner's problem, but the city shouldn't put fuel on the fire of rat reproduction. We have enough problems with the people who feed ducks and geese along Laurel Creek and thereby continue to feed the rats with the leftovers that the ducks and geese leave after they have had their fill. Those rats then move on into nearby neighborhoods when the feeding stops or is diminished or the rat population gets too large to be sustained by that food source.

Considering the ongoing nuisance posed by the Norway rat, I would venture that it would be very unwise to add to the problem by allowing people to keep chickens in an urban environment. Public sanitation is a city responsibility, and this city should do more to take it seriously rather than cave in to trendy and noisy lobbies.

CHICKENS ARE FARM ANIMALS!
It's unfair to the birds and the neighbours.
There are neighbours on the street behind my apartment building, in uptown Waterloo, who keep several chickens in their backyard. I can hear them from my balcony on the 6th floor.

I wrote 2 long comments on the survey. Thank you for reading my input.

Really? Chickens in the city?
How about setting up a coop in the city council chamber?
I can't believe council is even entertaining this.
There is a place for husbandry; it is called a farm.

Subdivisions are no place for chicken coops.I cant believe this is even a consideration. Our elected City officials have no common sense. If you want chickens, get a farm!!!

I believe backyard chickens is a great way to provide fresh healthy eggs for any family. And as well as a healthy learning project for children. Better to have them helping with the chickens than sitting inside on video games

As with fire pits, there is no one answer with regard to chickens. How does the city decide who can and who can't have these hobbies? Chickens will inevitably cause neighboring dogs to bark more, an already existing nuisance in some cases. They will attract coyotes in some areas, putting pets and small children at risk. Their feed will attract mice and rats. Will the city restrict the coops to approved purchased models only, so neighbors aren't looking at chicken scrap shacks? When the novelty of chickens wears off, does the city require and enforce the removal and clean up of the coop? To what degree and at what cost are standards monitored and reinforced? By what criteria will the removal and cleaned up be set ? How much is the cost to the city to manage this hobby? I get it, at one time I wished for chickens, I think they are funny and CAN be productive, but I wished for them in the context of having a minimum 1 acre property. I am very attentive to property maintenance but not everyone is as can be witnessed on many fronts! Property standard bylaws aren't enforced now! Dog owners who don't pick up their poop, or toss the poop bags into trees and shrubs is a laziness I see often; too bad we can't trace them with DNA! There will also be people practicing no regard with chickens. It's too cold to raise chickens in the winter here, unless you heat the coop - what shortcuts will people take? It wouldn't take much to cause a property devaluation for any number of reasons and I personally don't want to pay more taxes because now the city needs more employees to evaluate, monitor and follow up on complaints.

Every animal has the ability to disrupt people. Dogs bark and go washroom on my lawn and cats have killed birds, dug up my flowers and left dead things in my driveway but I don't mind any of this. It's normal and natural. I cannot understand why people fuss over hens. My community is surrounded with full grown geese and nobody minds them. My family raised them for centuries.. If folks are willing to raise them let them. Don't make a bureaucratic circus of paperwork and management. They attract no more mice that a normal bird feeder.

I have often wondered why the city of Kitchener allows residents to keep hens, but Waterloo does not. Why this ongoing debate if we are indeed the "Twin Cities"? Our city seems committed to combating climate change on many other fronts (more bike lanes, more public transit, etc.), and the passing of this proposed bylaw could be one more positive step to mitigating our collective environmental footprint. If people choose to raise chickens for eggs and/or meat, they are consuming fewer resources, and reducing fossil fuel emissions by producing "local" food.
If an individual is committed to their chickens, he/she will be motivated to engage in good animal husbandry. Our family raised rabbits for meat (right here in the city!), and this ensured that we provided top-notch care. We wanted quality meat, so we provided quality care. Chickens aren't "easy" pets like goldfish, and the initial cost and investment to house and feed them should make most people truly consider/realize the responsibility they are undertaking.
I have read some of the other comments, and those along the lines of "if you want chickens, move out to the country!" seem somewhat close-minded. I can't afford to move out to a farm, although I wish I could! If clear guidelines of care are established, I think this would be an incredible opportunity for people to become more self-sufficient and realize how important our food supply chain is. We are really blessed that during this pandemic, we haven't had any interruptions in the supply chain. Can you imagine what would happen if there were food shortages? Civilized society would quickly fall apart! I have a garden and fruit trees, and in the summer, it's such a relief to have some of the food budget "relieved" by what we can produce ourselves. I truly hope that Council will vote in favor of allowing chickens.

The survey is ridiculous. I can see the city saying 90% of people are fine if the coops are inspected. The fact that I think coops should be inspected where they exist, does not mean that I want them in my neighbourhood. I don't need the smell, the noise or a possible increase in predators. If you want to raise chickens, move to a farm.

We are lucky in Waterloo to be close to farms and a beautiful farmers market. Why not support our local farmers. I have lived here 35 years and have never before seen foxes walking down our subdivision roads. Also the coyotes are coming in closer. Why encourage this. Many people in the area don’t take care of their cats and dogs as it is. The novelty of raising chickens would wear off very quickly. The idea of people slaughtering their own birds is ridiculous. Let’s not start another round of illnesses in the area. If you are doing it for your children, visit a farm to educate them. Keep Waterloo the classy city it is. Having bylaw or others check on the chicken owners is a dream, it would never happen. Move to the country and raise whatever you want.

hope we dont end up with $10 per chicken for the license fee.

Waterloo people are well educated, no needs to add license and fees on the top (or hire one employee/ per 10 chickens then raise the taxes). just provide a guideline please.

SURVEY FEEDBACK
I'm excited to see Waterloo is considering allowing backyard chickens, especially during this new season where people's struggles are exacerbated due to the pandemic.  I believe the opportunity for people to feel empowered creating their own food source could have a meaningful impact on wellbeing in a variety of ways - not only financially, but by creating recreational opportunities, social engagement (outdoors with people according to gathering limits, or by engaging with the animals themselves), and improving mental and physical health. 

I am concerned this survey misses the opportunity to provide some education to the public so the average person can provide more thoughtful input, and it also provides too many generalized questions/examples.  Rules and regulations can be important, but can also sometimes (often?) throw up unnecessary red tape and barriers for people (and cost the public in bureaucracy).  If we are trying to come up with a framework supports people's freedoms to raise/grow food, while mitigating risks, it would be great if we could do that from a place of really understanding the issues.  

For example, if we're discussing the limits of numbers of chickens, it seems obvious this should be related to the size of property but the question is generalized.  Also, does the standard of care of the coops affect the health/safety of others if the products are not being sold?  Do we really need to regulate this or could it be on more of a complaint basis?  I'm genuinely asking because I don't know the health/safety risks (though I assume they are extremely low for small-scale operations), but I hope somebody spearheading this project/creating regulations is more informed about the actual risks and can help guide public input in a more informed way.  

If we're going to put up barriers to entry, let's have an educated reason for it. 

I love animals and the freedom to enjoy one's backyard. I have noticed a significant increase in wildlife in the city - there is currently intense competition among foxes in my neighbourhood - and I'm wondering what the presence of chickens would mean for that situation. If chickens are allowed, then I think it's an absolute MUST that owners be subject to some sort of license and course (like a boating license), meet minimum standards, and pass inspections if there are complaints. However there will also need to be broader public education so that the mere presence of chickens in itself doesn't incur complaint.

We all know there will be responsible owners and irresponsible. Where will waste go? I live across from a park and can't walk past the garbage can in the summer due to all the dog waste fumes. Where will body parts go when they're slaughtered. Taxpayers will be stuck with additional costs for the complaint calls. What about allergy suffers with a coop right next door? Our yards are small. What about attracting rats and mice. Noise?

With covid job loss is at a high and food insecurity is also at a high. Keeping chickens for eggs is a food source where otherwise families go hungry.

I have lived on farms with 300 chickens and lived on farms with 8 chickens. What I learned is: chickens are low maintenance, quiet, good for the garden, rewarding and can be lifesaving to collect + eat the eggs.

Chickens do not make noise, it is the roosters that crow in the morning & not the chickens. Even so, with closed window you will not hear the rooster, they are infinitely quieter than a lawn mower. Plus you can keep just the chickens and do not need a rooster

Chickens do not smell, unless you have 300 of them and you are in their coop. Backyard chickens with their small numbers do not have any smell associated with them

Bring on the chickens

No issues with this proposal. I do not understand why the delay. If this had been a bike lane proposal, it would be accelerated and wip sawed through council!

Some of the survey questions don't allow room to explain why I chose that option. Example, as long as a property has a fenced backyard a chicken coop of appropriate size could be established. Also, single detached AND semi-detached houses should be allowed to have laying hens as long as parameters are met (minimum setback and backyard must be fenced). A license is a good idea but one that covers say a 3 year period upon which it must be renewed and inspected to ensure it is still up to bylaw standards. A yearly license/inspection is just ridiculous and a cash grab.