It is a little surprising to see this request come up again ... but one has to appreciate the dedication and zeal of the proponents. Nonetheless, it brings some concerns to the fore.
First, it is too bad the elected representatives couldn’t use the wisdom they were elected to use on such matters instead of waiting to see who whined and wheedled more efficiently to gain their vote on this matter. Politics governed by pressure groups has never worked out well.
That being said, the idea of chickens in backyards in Cochrane, while tinged with an historic, romantic flavour, is not a good one, when you think about it. I raised chickens for a good number of years, so I may have some insight.
Consider the so-far unmentioned. Who will police this? The town at taxpayers’ expense?
While many may keep their chicken coops clean and healthy, who is to gauge this? What standards would be required? How often would the flock and coops be inspected? Who is to determine if the feed and water are sufficient summer and winter? If my neighbour’s “darlings” are loose and digging up my gardens, where do I get retribution?
Hens are usually quiet and gentle. Roosters - not! (Do we only allow hens? Is this sexual discrimination?) If the town would limit the number of birds, who will pay to have some official come around to count? How many extra laying hens can one slip in without detection? Please tell me it is not the un-chickened taxpayer.
Now, about unwanted guests. It is an unfortunate fact that chickens in a coop or run attract critters like raccoons and skunks and coyotes and foxes and badgers and snakes and bears and other varmints. Supporters may contend that the chicken coops will be properly built, but, again, who would inspect and regulate and at what cost and out of whose pocket?
Do the citizens of Cochrane - do the proponents of “Cluck” - really want to invite more wildlife into the town to gobble our gardens or threaten our dogs and cats? I don’t think so. Perhaps we have not thought this through.
Councillors, please stop this nonsense. Leave the chickens on the acreages outside of town. Do not open Pandora’s box ... especially when the pressure is on to shrink the size of a town lot. Let’s get our ducks in a row and get our eggs at the grocery stores or at the Farmers’ Markets.
Ken Silcox
