While City of Powell River council considered weighty issues of zoning bylaws driven by the residential development boom and decisions about the new $66 million wastewater treatment plant at a recent four-hour committee of the whole meeting, members still found time to talk chicken, and they’re not clucking around.
A total of eight letters were received by the committee at the May 1 meeting, all regarding the city’s animal control bylaw governing the keeping of poultry in the city. A review and report on the revised bylaw is pending from city staff.
Under the existing bylaw, in Wildwood, for example, residents can keep up to 12 poultry, no roosters, or 20 rabbits. In Cranberry, 24 poultry, one of which may be a rooster, or 50 rabbits are allowed. Elsewhere in Powell River, up to three poultry are allowed and no roosters can be kept.
Requests from residents wanting more than three chickens ranged from six to 24.
“There’s no way I want to bump things up to 20 or 24 chickens,” said councillor Russell Brewer.
When the animal control bylaw was approved in 2012, according to Brewer, council discussed allowing six birds. He said he would support that number in the new animal control bylaw.
Mayor Dave Formosa, who said he voted against chickens when the issue was decided on six years ago, wants nine chickens or rabbits allowed. Formosa also wants an allowance for electric fencing on quarter-acre lot sizes with R1, R2 and R3 zoning, where the limit is currently three.
The question of electric fencing was common in the correspondence.
As councillor Jim Palm noted, six chickens is a good number, but he raised the issue of conflict between neighbours and wildlife, including bears. More chickens attract more bears.
“An easy way to stop this and protect resources is electric fencing,” stated local resident Nick Adair in a letter to council. “Why are we banned from using electric fencing?”
Electric fencing is encouraged by WildSafeBC and councillor Karen Skadsheim said Bear Smart recommendations should be part of city staff’s new bylaw report.
Chickens are a big bear attractant in the Powell River area right now, according to WildSafeBC community coordinator for Powell River Francine Ulmer.
“A bear near Southview Road was not easily deterred after killing a chicken and came back for more,” said Ulmer.
The bear had to be shot by a BC Conservation Officer Service officer and there have also been complaints of bears killing chickens in the Lang Bay area, she added.
“These bears may also need to be destroyed if they pose a safety concern, so please secure all attractants and consider electric fencing,” said Ulmer.
Ultimately, talking chicken, or hens, comes down to eggs and Powell River resident Emily Meylea stated that three chickens do not lay enough eggs in one week for her family. On a good day, one hen will lay an egg, so three chickens means three eggs, she added.
“We average eating two eggs each day and that doesn’t include baking,” stated Meylea in a letter. “My ideal number would be 20 hens as I am entering the teenage years with my children.”
Councillor Rob Southcott said he supports increasing the number of chickens currently allowed.
“Having grown up in Cranberry and having grown up with chickens,” said Southcott, “three would have been ridiculous. It’s just not enough eggs.”
