Petawawa, Ontario chicken coop laws

[Signofthethistle]

Hello All, I was recomended this site by a friend of mine.

I live in Petawawa, Ontario Canada and just purchased a home with a lovely backyard which boarders on wildlife conservation area (ie no backyard neighbours) We have neighbours on either side, but the yard is quite long and we will be fencing it, as we have 2 dogs.

I have wanted hens since I was a child and would be using them soley for laying hens. I've been looking online for local bylaws and any information I can find, but they do not have them online or easily accessed. I visited our local municiple building and we are zoned 'residential' and therefore are not allowed to have nesting hens. However, we are located at the edge of town and have a large back yard with 1/2 of it being natural forest and never any back yard neighbours. I've been doing some research and know that hens are less stinky than dogs or cats, carry less parsites and also are wonderful for the composte bin and garden.

Are there any others that raise laying hens within the city limits or just outside? Our bylaw officer is away until the 24th at which time I will be speaking with her about this. I would love to have some hens (3-4) for eggs for my family and friends AND the compost for my garden.

Do you have any suggestions or know of any local people that do this, I would love to speak with you all on cold weather coops, surviving the winters and any help you can give on these local bylaws.

Thanks so much!

Rachel

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

I do not know the coop laws and am in the US, so no help but you might want to search the "Where am I? Where are you!" forum for members in Ontario. Use the search in the upper blue bar, just above your logged in name. It will take you to a nice search engine - you can pick the forum to search and such.

 

[cherp68]

I am in Fonthill, ON, just outside of Niagara Falls. Legally we are not supposed to have chickens, Niagara Falls residents however can (we're 20 mins away). We got out chickens anyway, didn't contact anyone from the town. We only have hens which started out to be just for their eggs, but now they are pets. Our neighbours all around us know we have chickens, in fact our neighbour across the street looks after our girls when we are away - she loves it!! We have a 6' fenced in yard, a coop & run for our girls and we clip their wings so they never go anywhere. For this area we have a fairly large back yard for them to free range all day.

If the town ever came down on us for it they'd have a hell of a fight on their hands. Our chickens make less noise than any of the dogs in the neighbourhood!!!

 

[Darisha]

We are moving to Petawawa and, sadly, no chickens are allowed. We are buying a house most likely on a very small lot so no chickens in my future... I'm sure the neighbours would know because it would be like living in row housing/ town homes and having chickens.... if circumstances were different and we could buy a home on a larger lot I would have chickens regardless of bylaws. I'm a bit jealous of those who are able to have chickens!

 

[Schmazly]

I live in Fonthill Ontario as well. Our property is 170 feet by 100 feet and I would love to keep three chickens on the property. I don't want to get in trouble though, and think it maybe worthwhile to lobby Pelham to get the law changed.