Communities-Please, chicken out of urban farming!
Lynne Bell
This April, Calgary city council voted down a proposed year-long pilot project in which egg-laying hens would be allowed in 20 of the city's neighbourhoods, effectively chickening out of making urban farming legal within city limits.
I love my adopted city of three decades, but had this proposal been approved, I would say my move back to beautiful Saskatchewan happened in the nick of time. Aside from my personal ick factor regarding (EEEKKK!!!) chickens, allowing any type of bird or animal to be “farmed” within city or town limits is a bad idea, not only for the creatures in question, but also for the *ahem* farmers and their neighbours.
There are, of course, compelling arguments in favour of raising one's own eggs-easy availability, the freshness factor, control over additives in feed, and possible savings. However, these are largely offset by reality. That is, most urban chicken farmers will lose interest and/or prove to be hopelessly inept when it comes to a long-term committment to responsible animal husbandry within city limits or anywhere else, for that matter.
As most people in this province know, farming (even on the smallest scale) is not for the flighty (I know, ban pun!) or fainthearted. Even raising a few backyard chickens is a big job. Chickens are actually social animals, so it would be considered cruel to own just one hen and expect it to become a happy, contented egg producer on your own personal Planet Organic.
A weekend away, or an even longer period out of town, would require the owner to make arrangements for the birds' care, which my research has found is more considerable than one might think. In Montreal (a city that okayed backyard chickens), the local Humane Society experienced a glut of unwanted birds once the novelty had worn off for many of the city's failed farmers. And on a purely selfish note, I shudder to think of the prospect of a walk to work which would involve an encounter with stray chickens. Or even worse, if stray chickens encountered stray dogs or stray cats. I can see the headline now: 'Carnage in Carlyle'...
On a serious note, a big concern in Calgary was that backyard hens would attract rodents, raccoons, skunks and coyotes to yards-especially to those where young children reside. Avian flu is also a valid concern. As recently as February of this year, a backyard flock in Chilliwack, B.C. suffered an outbreak. Eighty-one birds died from the virus and 13 were destroyed. (I digress, but what kind of a “backyard flock” was this?).
The U.S. Centres for Disease Control states that backyard poultry also pose a significant risk of salmonella. A report in the Calgary Herald cites the CDC, saying: “Live poultry may have salmonella germs in droppings and on their bodies...even when they appear healthy and clean. The germs can get on cages, coops, feed and water dishes, hay, plants, and soil in the area where the birds live and roam...the germs can be found on the hands, shoes, and clothing of those who handle the birds or work or play where they live and roam.”
Large-scale factory farming is far from ideal, and it is a horrible situation for any animal. However, we are lucky enough to live in a province where fresh eggs can be easily purchased from area farmers who run ethical operations, while producing superior agricultural products-including eggs.
Instead of holding hen parties in cities and towns, support your local farmers. The chickens (and I!) will thank you.
Urban farming a growing trend
By Kelly Running
When you think, “urban farming,” what comes to mind? For many it’s a chicken farm in the backyard, but there’s more to it. Whether raising chickens or growing a garden people in urban centres are increasingly participating in urban farming and is growing in popularity for many.
There are backyard chickens and community gardens springing up in urban centres and they are growing in popularity.
Urban farming is a positive way to add greenery to cities, reduce harmful runoff, and increase shade. Garden plots are a way for city dwellers or even for town folk to connect with the earth.
Oftentimes these gardens are found on rooftops and are created on patios or decks of apartments. They are a place of relaxation or they can be a way to provide jobs to people in need of work. For example New York City has seen businesses sprout up out of High Line Park where urban farming has become the norm.
In addition to these gardens there are the backyard chicken coops. People may keep multiple hens or only a couple, often it depends on the size of the backyard. These egg-laying hens produce food, which a Calgary man once argued was a Charter right to raise their own food.
For many who live in urban settings backyard farming becomes a way of getting back to nature, while also being able to control their food source knowing precisely where their food is coming from.
Cities in Canada including Victoria, Vancouver, and Guelph all have legislation allowing for legal backyard hens, yet places like Calgary continue to view the act as illegal.
For many people the idea of having backyard hens is in fact a way to remove themselves from commercial egg-producing facilities arguing that their flocks are actually living better lives. These backyard hens arguably have more sunlight and room to move about, to be normal chickens.
These chickens in fact are said to produce more healthy omega-3 fats, with more vitamin E, D, and A, more beta carotene, and less saturated fat and cholesterol.
Additionally salmonella is often attributed to intensive cage systems where flocks suffer from poor hygiene. Eggs in these systems sit for a longer time and therefore bacteria may grow. The backyard farmer knows when the eggs were laid and how quickly they were able to put them in the refrigerator though reducing the amount of bacteria found in them.
The waste the chickens produce is also a perfect natural fertilizer for that backyard garden being groomed as well.
Obviously raising poultry and being able to dedicate enough time to a backyard farm isn’t for everyone, but for those who would like to raise a few chickens in town and are willing to put in the time and effort then they should be allowed to.
