A Turner Valley woman who spent the last year raising four hens as part of a pilot project is glad she'll get to keep the birds. Margaret Krichbaum watched as Turner Valley Town council voted Nov.
A Turner Valley woman who spent the last year raising four hens as part of a pilot project is glad she'll get to keep the birds.
Margaret Krichbaum watched as Turner Valley Town council voted Nov. 2 to change its animal control bylaw to allow residents to own as many as six hens following the success of a year-long test that ended two months ago.
“I'm very pleased,” Krichbaum said. “I like how they integrated it with the existing animal bylaw. They did a good job of making it simple.”
Krichbaum was among a group of Canadian Liberated Urban Chicken Klub (CLUCK) members who encouraged both Black Diamond and Turner Valley to take part in a backyard hen pilot project.
“It's basically two years since we got together and said, “How do we make this happen,'” she said.
The collaborative project between the two Towns began in the summer of 2014, allowing participants to own up to four hens under specific guidelines.
Turner Valley council received a report on its pilot project in September, which revealed regular inspections of the two participants' coops and birds showed they were well cared for and communication with neighbours resulted in no negative feedback. Turner Valley administration then met with Black Diamond's to review its recommendations to align their bylaws.
Turner Valley Mayor Kelly Tuck said the decision was easy for council.
“We knew there were no issues with the project, we knew there were no complaints and we heard some good positives when that presentation was made,” she said. “If you are hearing it worked really well why would council stop the process? We went, “This is going to work and we are working in partnership with our neighbour,' which is really important to all of us.”
Those interested in owning hens must pay a $30 licensing fee and adhere to regulations outlined in the animal control bylaw.
A $150 fine will be issued for such offenses as exceeding the maximum six hens, failing to maintain a sanitary coop, keeping hens when not permitted, selling eggs, manure, meat or other related products, slaughtering or euthanizing hens within the town limits and allowing the birds to run at large.
The bylaw also states that yards must be secured, each hen must have one clipped wing and the coops must be a minimum of one metre from the property line adjacent to a neighbour.
Last month, Black Diamond Town council unanimously agreed to allow residents to own chickens, but changes to its animal control bylaw won't come to council until December. Residents must wait for the changes before buying hens, but pilot project participants can keep their birds in the meantime.
Tuck said she has no concerns that hen owners will be negligent with the increase of four hens to six.
“We already have a year of practice,” she said. “We know that they're being maintained, they are being looked after, they are being treated appropriately. What's two more? They are still going to be looked after.”
Unlike during the pilot project, Tuck said the Town's protective services will only inspect henhouses in the event of a complaint.
“It's no different than if we get a complaint that a dog isn't being housed and cared for properly,” she said.
Tuck said she's already heard from residents wanting to add chickens to their yards.
“I have interest from about three families and good for them,” she said. “They were all waiting from council to hear about this.”
Krichbaum is inviting citizens who are approved to contact her or other CLUCK members for advice or assistance in getting started. She can be reached at [email protected]
“It's really important the hens are really well cared for,” she said. “I would hate to hear about crowded coops or dirty birds or parasites. They may think a bird is healthy but you have to pick it up and look at it.”
The Town of Turner Valley's animal control bylaw is available online at turnervalley.ca
