GLOBE: A little fowl play approved for Vancouverites

Backyard chickens have been made legal in Vancouver. John Lehmann/ The Globe and Mail

Keeping abreast of other communities, city lets residents keep up to four hens in a backyard coop

Ian Bailey Vancouver

From Wednesday's Globe and Mail Published on Tuesday, Jun. 08, 2010 10:31PM EDT Last updated on Wednesday, Jun. 09, 2010 10:39AM EDT

Chickens are now allowed as egg-producing pets in Vancouver, but never to end up on the dinner plate.

At their Tuesday meeting, city council approved amendments to the animal-control bylaw allowing residents to keep four hens in a backyard coop.

Roosters, ducks, pheasants and turkeys are not allowed.

“It’s very hard to argue against allowing people who want to do it to do it, based on the evidence,” Andrea Reimer, the city councillor designated as point person on the matter, said in an interview after the meeting.

“It’s much quieter than dog ownership. It’s less smelly than dog ownership.”

She noted that some Vancouver residents were keeping their chickens illegally. “It made sense for the city council to consider the issue and also provide some framework so it’s not ad hoc.”