Okotoks will be welcoming some new feathered residents as soon as next month, as a pilot project to keep backyard chickens in town has been approved to run from May 1 – Sept. 1 of 2016.
Canadian Liberated Urban Chicken Klub (CLUCK) member Jenni Bailey said she is ecstatic that things will be ready to go for this summer, and said she’s already seen plenty of interest.
“I’m feeling really excited and grateful…So many communities want this, so anytime a community gets a pilot, all eyes are watching. I think we can do some great things here.” Bailey said. “Chickens are not for everyone, I totally understand that. But for those of us that do want them, it should be legal. I’m hopeful that once we get going… people will see it’s not a big deal to have them in town and life will carry on as normal.”
Eighteen participants will be allowed to obtain a licence for the project, which will become available on a first come first served basis after April 27. As a prerequisite, participants must have taken a hen-care class, which 24 people attended on April 8, and 10 are already signed up to take the next one on April 27.
“People are asking great questions and really want to learn about keeping chickens,” Bailey said of the first care class. “They want to make sure they have a great set-up as far as coop and run go and want to ensure they keep their hens healthy…It was a very positive evening and we are all feeling a great sense of community.”
Once things get underway, municipal enforcement will work with CLUCK to monitor the participants. The Town will then prepare a report for council outlining any concerns or issues that arose over the 16 months, and council will then decide whether it would like to implement a bylaw that would permanently allow hens in town.
The next class runs on April 27 at the Okotoks Public Library from 7-8:30 p.m. For more information, visit CLUCK Okotoks’ Facebook page.
