Council approves looking into costing for backyard chickens

Although no final decision has been made, Chatham-Kent councilors voted to move ahead with seeking an additional staff report and costing for backyard chickens.

South Kent County. Anthony Ceccacci entered a successful motion Monday night asking that administration bring back the report in the spring of next year, including several options for a program, with different levels of regulation and enforcement.

It will also include an update from public health concerning avian flu.

“I think that just moving forward, or saying yes or no right now, is premature,” Ceccacci said. “There’s too many variables when it comes to costing, and a lot of variables when it comes to enforcement.”

North Kent County. Rhonda Jubenville entered a friendly amendment asking that a pilot project be considered, if the idea ultimately moves ahead.

According to a recent survey, more than two-thirds of participants supported the idea of ​​backyard chickens in Chatham-Kent.

However, given the questions and concerns, a public meeting took place in Blenheim last month.

A total of 4,988 participants completed the online survey in April and May, with 68 per cent in favor of backyard chickens. Forty-six per cent of participants said they are interested in having backyard chickens.

Eighty per cent of the respondents were from urban areas, 20 per cent were from rural areas.

The issue was raised in February by Ceccacci, who noted residents were asking that the birds be allowed in urban and rural residential areas.

Council has faced this issue in previous years, most recently in 2020, when it voted down a motion to look at the issue further.

According to Monday’s report, Chatham-Kent Public Health does not endorse a bylaw, due to the elevated risk of infectious diseases transmission posed by backyard chickens in urban settings.

If a bylaw is passed, council is “urged to consider a mandatory education component for individuals wishing to possess backyard chickens in urban areas, as well as regulatory inclusions that limit distribution of chicken products.”

In a letter, the Kent Federation of Agriculture opposed any bylaw allowing backyard chickens in urban areas in Chatham-Kent, citing the avian influenza risk to the food supply system.

“It has been proven that contaminating of commercial flocks originates in urban areas,” the letter said. “(And) avian influenza was detected in Ontario in a backyard flock in Chatham-Kent in 2023.”

The staff report noted backyard chickens are permitted in 26 of Ontario’s 444 municipalities.

Neighboring jurisdictions such as Windsor, London and Essex, Lambton and Elgin counties, don’t permit backyard chickens. The closest municipality that does is Sarnia.