I just came from an area in the world that allows for chickens in the city. In Antigua, every morning at 1:30 a.m. a neighbouring cock would start crowing, and more than thrice. The first early call brought nostalgic memories of rural Saskatchewan. Succeeding evenings had me screaming "shut that damn rooster up."
I guess Council could pass a bylaw that provided for smart roosters only, being those who knew dawn from the dead of night. And some young entrepreneur could kick start a business for chicken poop bags - maybe the kind that carriage horses wear in the city. Kids could raid chicken coops on Hallowe'en and continue the age-old tradition of tricking in lieu of treats. And maybe we could have community chicken coops, and . . .
As I facetiously cluck my disapproval on this idea I ask: Did anyone on council support this?
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I see no logical reason behind banning chickens. Of course, the number allowed per household should be limited. Chickens cause no real problem for neighbours. They dont make as much noise as your neighbour's dogs barking & certaintly not as much nuisance as those irresponsible neighbour's cats who they allow to roam freely. Those advocating for chickens agree that roosters should not be allowed so no concern about that morning crowing. However, a rooster's crows are no louder then that of other birds like blue jays, crows etc that frequent our yards most mornings....and many of us welcome those sounds of nature....
ReplyDeleteI see no logical reason behind banning COWS also. Of course, the number allowed per household should be limited. COWS cause no real problem for neighbours. They dont make as much noise as your neighbour's dogs barking & certaintly not as much nuisance as those irresponsible neighbour's cats who they allow to roam freely. Those advocating for COWS agree that BULLS should not be allowed so no concern about that morning CHARGING. However, a COW's MOOs are no louder then that of other ANIMALS like blue jays, crows etc that frequent our yards most mornings....and many of us welcome those sounds of nature....
ReplyDeleteI see no logical reason behind banning ALLIGATORS. Of course, the number allowed per household should be limited. ALLIGATORS cause no real problem for neighbours. They dont make as much noise as your neighbour's dogs barking & certaintly not as much nuisance as those irresponsible neighbour's cats who they allow to roam freely. Those advocating for ALLIGATORS agree that MALE ALLIGATORS should not be allowed so no concern about that morning (INSERT ALLIGATOR SOUND). However, an ALLIGATOR's SOUNDS are no louder then that of other birds like blue jays, crows etc that frequent our yards most mornings....and many of us welcome those sounds of nature....
ReplyDeletei don't welcome nature's sound of crows in the morning, in fact if i could have crows banned i would request that too
ReplyDeletethe request at council was for chickens, not cocks....the vote was 8-2 (Dubois being the only one I know who voted in favour).
ReplyDeleteMy, my our agrarian roots run deep. Thanks for the info on the one hen that supported the concept. Anyone know which other of the flock supported this feather-brained proposal?
ReplyDeletewhat is that old expression about not having your cake and eating it too? it would seem that there are certain benefits to living in the city as opposed to in the country, and vise versa. i imagine this ludicrous idea of raising chickens in your backyard falls under this umbrella. if you want to raise chickens move to the country.
ReplyDeleteso let me get this straight, some people believe that i shouldn't be able to have a backyard fire pit because it is disrespectful to my neighbors but i can raise chickens?
as for the cocks versus chickens argument, is the city's pet patrol supposed to start checking the chickens as they go door to door checking on pet licenses?
it's funny no one has yet made any reasonable argument as to WHY chicken's shouldn't be allowed.
ReplyDeleteYes roosters are louder, but they weren't included in that proposal.
Other than mocking the proposal and being saying they only belong in the country, what are the actually reasons why chickens shouldn't be allowed in the city???
Are they a health hazard? Are they noisey? Do they smell?
If any of those are the case, why do other (bigger!) cities allow them? and how do they deal with the menace of chickens in the city?
It seems anyone opposed to chickens can only manage to joke or mock the idea, but I've yet to see anyone with actual arguments against them......I don't feel strongly either way, but until someone has a real argument with some facts thrown in, it seems more like people are just afraid of change than anything, so I say why not?
"On the warmth and entertainment scale," Moore said, "they're better than a snake, but not as good as a cat."
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Don't raise chickens to save money, advises the Dec. 15, 2008, Chicago Tribune story "Chickens Earn Keep in Chicago Backyards: More Urbanites Have the Critters for Eggs—and Companionship." One chicken-lover says the coop, chicken wire, and feeders set him back $500. A 50-pound bag of organic feed costs $22. You have to secure the coop to keep out foxes, skunks, rats, raccoons, dogs, and cats. A hawk or a teenager with a Wrist Rocket can waste a free-ranging chicken in a flash. Generally speaking, urban veterinarians don't know how to treat sick chickens. Hens don't start dropping eggs until about 20 weeks, the Denver Post reports, on average three hens will produce two eggs a day, and the birds reach their peak production at two years.
In Victoria, animal-control officers have described the city's chicken bylaw as "tragically bad" -- with calls about escaped chickens destroying neighbouring gardens the No. 1 complaint. Wilson says the potential costs of inspecting, regulating and enforcing the chicken-raising rules are his biggest concern.
ReplyDeleteTending chickens may sound like a charming, pastoral pastime. But Karen Kirkwood, general manager of the Alberta Chicken Producers, says would-be hobby farmers shouldn't take the responsibility lightly.
"Raising chickens is not a simple and clear-cut practice," she cautions. "It is so important that people be educated in what's involved, because it's a big undertaking."
Kirkwood's group certifies large-scale poultry producers but not backyard or barnyard operations with fewer than 2,000 birds. But she says anyone who wants to keep even a few chickens needs to understand biosecurity protocols around infection prevention, to prevent the spread of diseases like avian flu.
that fool dubois definitely supported the motion.
ReplyDeleteanon 11:06 made some logical legitmate points ...thank you.
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