Council has ‘fowl’ discussion

Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative

A couple of Uxbridge residents appeared before council on Monday with a request to be allowed to have chickens in their backyard.

Sarah Campbell and Chris Bice said the Township, which does not allow chickens to be kept in residential-zoned properties, should move away from complaint-driven bans. Campbell said she lives in one of the township's hamlets, with a large backyard while across the road are farms "with zero oversight."

She said other residents in the hamlet have chickens "but we don't know if they're following proper protocol" for raising chickens. She said the bylaw ban should be replaced with a permit system.

Councillor Willie Popp said he was a little alarmed to hear that some hamlet residents are not in compliance with the bylaw.

The transmission of H5N1, also known as avian or bird flu, is part of the reason chickens are not permitted in residential areas within the township.

Council decided to have staff review the bylaw.