The backyard hen issue has gone to roost — for now.
On Wednesday, the city’s licensing and standards committee voted to “defer indefinitely” a request to study the feasibility of allowing backyard chickens in Toronto.
Residents are already raising hens on their property for their eggs, and advocates say it makes sense to legalize a practice that is in lockstep with the growing local food movement.
The committee heard from a number of hen supporters, including an urban food writer, a public health researcher and two Grade 9 brothers who joined a club in their high-school dedicated to changing the city bylaw. “Our generation is really into knowing where food comes from,” said Matthew Patel, who goes to Upper Canada College and has four hens at home.
Lorraine Johnson, author of City Farmer: Adventures in Urban Food G
rowing, said Toronto does not have to forge a new path, it can simply look to what other cities such as Vancouver, New York, Los Angeles and Kingston have done in removing restrictions on keeping hens in urban areas.
But members of the committee raised various issues with the birds, including noise, possible public health risks, nuisance to neighbours, animal welfare, and sapping strained city resources. Some worried it could lead to residents wanting to raise other farm animals in the city.
“This is the craziest thing I have ever heard in my life,” said Councillor Frances Nunziata.
“I think people who want the farm experience can grow some tomatoes,” said Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker. More
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