Hello. I would like to share a copy of this letter I sent to St. Albert City Councillor Cathy Heron, regarding backyard chickens:
My name is Christal, and I am writing to you about backyard chickens.
I was recently reading a news article online, which mentioned that you would like to see St. Albert approve backyard chickens in 2016. I think this is fantastic and would strongly encourage you to pursue this topic further.
As an enthusiastic growing and gardening city, St Albert seems the perfect place to extend this philosophy through pursuits such as home gardens, keeping bees and backyard chickens (hens only).
The concept of keeping backyard hens and growing/raising your own food, and knowing where your food comes from is so important for this generation and those to come.
Support for farmers’ markets is growing, people are eating at restaurants that serve local food, and people are planting their own backyard gardens and now possibly getting hens in their own backyard. And it makes sense. Hens (vs. roosters) are quiet (way less noisy than your neighbour's dog or the magpies). In small numbers (three to six hens per backyard) they're easy to care for and to keep odour-free. They can supply a family with a constant supply of fresh, clean eggs. They can also consume kitchen vegetable scraps. Local food isn't just a trend – it's the future.
Numerous cities around the world already enjoy having chickens right in their own backyards; cities like Victoria, Vancouver, Guelph, Niagara Falls, Brampton, Seattle, New York, L.A., Portland, Madison, Houston and many more. I strongly encourage St. Albert and Edmonton to join the ranks of these cities.
My husband and I have kept three backyard chickens in Edmonton, and we have had nothing but positive feedback from neighbours, friends, and family. We are responsible homeowners and care about what we eat and the environment. We maintain a tidy, healthy environment for our hens and educate ourselves accordingly. I can personally attest that they do not smell or disrupt the neighbours. They certainly create less noise or smells than a dog.
Edmonton is considering allowing backyard hens and is conducting a pilot project to identify needs/issues. Would St. Albert consider such a pilot project?
At this time we are actively looking for a home in St. Albert, as we have always wanted to live there. I hope that once we find our perfect home in your city, that we will be able to have backyard hens.
Please continue your mission within city council to have this approved.
Christal Morrison, Edmonton
