Backyard Chickens

As long as the coops are well constructed, cleaned and the animals are well kept and treated fairly, I have no objections to this concept. I believe there should be a minimum of 6 - 10 animals allowed. If an owner is irresponsible, then I would like to see a quick enforcement action or a withdrawl of their license and the ability to seize their birds.

The same people who are probably complaining about dogs and cats in the neighbourhood will probably complain about chickens if they were allowed. I believe that city has to make some minimum standards for care of the chickens.

They should invoke the nuisance bylaw for the chronic complainers in the neighbourhood who complain about everything. Vets should have to inspect the chickens every year for disease as well. They will make up everything from rats probably due to garbage in the neighbourhood. Yes there are foxes in my own neighbourhood and coyotes.

If you want chickens move to an area zoned for agriculture. There is a smell associated with a coup and I don't want one next to me.

Many people do not understand the work involved in this. I feel bad for the chickens. We already have an abundance of rats in Waterloo and this will make it worse not to mention predatory animals. On top of it I’d like to point out that being in close contact with such animals without appropriate precautions subjects humans to salmonella as well as bird flu. Many mock other cultures for their wet markets and living in close proximity to livestock yet here we are. At the very least, someone should care about the poor chickens that aren’t going to be properly looked after.

My neighbour in Mississauga had chickens for a while (granted eventually the city removed them) and yes, they crowed at 4 am, but it was way less annoying than the garbage trucks with terrible e breaks outside my building at 4am. Bring on the chickens.

I grew up in Cambridge and my neighbours had chickens (as well as a glorious vegetable garden!) We never had any issues with rats, smells, noise, etc. I loved seeing the hens and my friends and I were occasionally allowed to help collect their eggs (with permission each time). My neighbours were from farming families and it meant so much to them to hold onto those parts of their identity despite living in a city. They also loved sharing their knowledge with others. As long as people are educated about chickens and make their decisions as responsible animal owners then chickens are excellent additions (which is true of many animals including dogs and cats).

I would love the opportunity to gain a new hobby and learn how to respectfully raise backyard chickens on my property. My kids would love it and get so much value/enjoyment out of it.

Backyard chickens should be allowed for many reasons. Helps sustainable food and reduces carbon footprint bringing eggs from elsewhere. Children learn where their food comes from. If roosters are banned, there seems no reason to ban chickens. No noise. They will feed on food waste and weeds from gardens and thus reduce greenbin recycling, although I think people who keep chickens are likely to compost on site. Coops can be built to be rat proof if that is a concern.

No concerns with this proposal. In fact in my Childhood, we did have a large garden and chickens in the back yard during the 1940s and 1950s. The roosters were a bit annoying. Enjoyed getting fresh eggs from the coops.

Farm animals in urban areas are near the stupidest ideas ever.

I have no issues with the proposal. At my secondary residences in other municipalities. It is allowed. I like the fact they allow neighbours to purchase eggs and the chickens are cute when they wander arou I live in a neighbourhood where this is allowed and there are no issues. There is only one issue a whiner neighbour but she complains about everything.

With the experience and well constructed example of a pro-backyard hen bylaw south of us in Kitchener there is no reason Waterloo cannot have a successful program as well. As demonstrated by facts from Kitchener bylaw, they have had only one substantiated rat complaint in four years. Chickens can live very harmoniously in backyards with the proper food storage, coop design, and care.

I support my neighbours having the freedom to keep chickens on their own property if they want to.

Oh my I see the old strawman of "chickens attract rats" is back in play! I will note that chickens do not cause rats to spontaneously appear. Having chickens will expose the neighbourhood rat problem that already exists. Think about where those rats were before the chickens appeared.
I think backyard chickens should be allowed when a yard is large enough and no more than 4 hens. And require a proper chicken coop and proper handling of the birds, their feed, and the wastes they produce. Be nice if we were as worried about outdoor pet cats that use my garden as a litter box and kill the wild birds in my neighbourhood. By comparison four hens are quite benign! Hmm - odds are I won't be able to keep hens because the cats will kill them.

Hello. It would be helpful if an additional comments category was included in the survey instead of here on this public page. Most other surveys have them? I have previously been a fan of backyard chickens.
However, I have changed my mind from experience. My main concerns include the attraction of wildlife to residential yards. I know two families with chickens. One in this region and one in BC. Both have very well kept chicken coops and both ended up attracting rats which affected neighbours as well. Another issue is that chickens routinely get ill and/or eventually need to be killed when they are done laying and / or for their meat. My experience is that most local vets don't treat chickens or carry medications for them. Would we restrict chickens to only people who own a vehicle? Because most of the vets that do help with farm animals are outside public transit limits. I don't think the chickens will get proper care. Also having grown up on a farm I know that killing a chicken isn't as easy as it seems and I don't think people have the necessary experience to be trying to handle this eventually necessary step especially in a city where it will likely be observed by neighbours. I think it will lead to less than ideal conditions for chickens and lots of calls to city services. Right now cats are not allowed outside for example and this is not enforced in any way which causes problems (unwanted pets in other people's yards, cats being hit by cars, cats reproducing and leading to busy cat rescue groups). I think chickens would be even harder to have proper enforcement around. I think it is a great idea but will not work well in practice.

Thank you very much for putting this survey up! This is a great opportunity to create better relationships with our food and communities. I hope more folks than just the humbugs reply!

I am very much in favour of having regular inspections to make sure that the chicken coops are well maintained and clean, as the number one concern seems to be mess and smell.

Limiting the number of chickens per property size is more reasonable than there being a standard limit - eg. small properties could host two, medium, 6, large 10, or however it would end up working out.

Butchering chickens should be allowed if hunters are allowed to bring game carcasses home and clean them - I don't know about the specific rules for that.

Perhaps have a separate license for anyone who wants to sell?

Thanks again!

This is a very stupid idea. We now have what seems to be a dog in every house we do not need more noise and smells in the neighborhoods.