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Goderich Town Council is moving forward with allowing urban residents to keep backyard hens.
A report from Sean Thomas, the Director of Community Services, Infrastructure, and Operations was delivered to council.
The town had initially received a letter from a grade 5 student at Goderich Public School, which asked council to consider allowing backyard hens.
Huron-Perth Public Health did not raise any concerns regarding health hazards, provided those who keep the birds are mindful of regulations.
CAO Janice Hallahan shared during Monday’s council meeting that the town had consulted with other communities.
Other municipalities in neighbouring counties already allow backyard hens, including Meaford and Georgian Bluffs which are in Grey County, and Saugeen Shores in Bruce County.
Hallahan explained that it would be easy to introduce a by-law or by-law amendment that would permit urban homes to keep a limited number of hens, rather than going through a pilot project or requiring a license to keep the animals.
The town’s by-laws currently allow keeping pigeons, but currently does not allow domestic chickens.
The proposed change would allow keeping a limited number of hens and disallowing roosters.
The advantages of keeping urban hens allows residents to enjoy fresh eggs, while the chickens provide natural pest control and fertilizer for gardens.
Council voted unanimously in favour of permitting keeping the birds.