Editor:
Re: Burnaby staff revisit issue of backyard chickens, NOW News
I welcome Burnaby's long overdue review of backyard chickens.
When I was growing up, three neighbours across the street in our block kept chickens, a neighbour around the corner whose property abutted the end of our yard had chickens, and the next-door neighbour on the corner was in the egg delivery business.
My sisters took care of some of the chickens when the owners were on vacation. There was never a problem.
Farrington Court just two blocks away sits on a former chicken farm. I was never aware of any problem.
In those days, the milkman, the bread man, the vegetable man, the fish man, and the egg man made weekly rounds delivering to neighbours.
Today, only one nearby neighbour has chickens. The birds were on site for some time before I realized that they were here. It was refreshing to see them and to know that they were peacefully co-existing with the neighbourhood. I enjoy them. Their yard is very clean, they have a clean, dry hutch, and they are well kept. No problem.
Chickens provide a type of connection to nature which is uncommon in the city. They introduce an air of tranquility amid the concrete and blacktop. We city dwellers can appreciate the contrast.
Along with community and backyard gardens, chickens contribute a measure to food security (eggs and meat) which is of increasing importance, especially since much good quality agricultural land in the region including in Burnaby has been squandered on industrial and other development.
I strongly encourage Burnaby to allow back yard chickens again in residential neighbourhoods as several surrounding municipalities have already done (North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Vancouver, New Westminster, Surrey) some more than 10 years ago. New Westminster has permitted back yard chickens since 1968.
Doug Porter, Burnaby
