(File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

Chickens in the city

Attempt to re-hatch chicken debate in P.A. gets lukewarm council reception

May 2, 2023 | 8:00 AM

After multiple motions by one Prince Albert Councillor attempting to support a re-hatch of the idea of people keeping chickens in town, there was still no yes or no by council at Monday’s executive committee meeting.

Local resident Lance McDougald told council that the birds are useful and eat everything, which reduces the need for chemicals that kill pests, such as grubs.

“While they are digging and chasing the bugs in the ground, they are also providing aeration for your lawn,” he said.

In their written presentation, he and his wife Jenn suggested that having free-range chickens would be ideal and would save the chicken owner money while providing nutritious food.

Multiple councillors said they were not outright opposed to the concept but needed more information to decide and that led to a series of motions by Coun. Terra Lennox Zepp.

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An initial motion by Mayor Greg Dionne to have the issue put to bed by receiving it for information met with defeat.

“My concern is none of my neighbours want it so if four doors down, one of my neighbours wants chickens, are they going to have to get my permission?” he said.

Coun. Dawn Kilmer said while she is not yet ready to get behind the idea, she would like to know more about what other municipalities have done and how it worked out.

Councillors Blake Edwards and Dennis Ogrodnick both said that the bylaw office is currently busy enough and citizens still violate bylaws such as where their garbage bins should go, never mind adding the policing of chickens to the pile.

“The simplest of bylaws people are not following and we can’t keep up to those,” said Edwards. “I just don’t see our city being ready for this and the parameters would be too difficult to set.”

Coun. Terra Lennox-Zepp made four different motions, attempting to have the concept go back to planning, to a public meeting, or to a council committee but none of them passed.

“Our cost of living is increasing, and this could really help citizens. I hope that we at least take the time to have the planning department review the issue and then give us some ideas on it,” she said.

In 2017, a handful of people approached council but it was defeated because of other concerns like attracting rodents or predators, such as skunks, foxes and coyotes.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com