By-law is for the birds

My cousin has decided that she needs to become an urban chicken farmer (if anywhere on Manitoulin can be considered urban). She, and her two young sons, have decided to raise some chickens. Unfortunately, where they live is zoned residential, and there is a by-law that doesn't allow this.

Actually, the by-law is so vague that all is says, in a nutshell, is that you can't have buildings on your property for any use other than as dwellings - it doesn't specify dwellings for people, rather than poultry. Hmmm, a possible loophole?

The city of Vancouver has recently changed their laws to allow for chickens, and Toronto and Waterloo are currently looking into the possibility of changes as well.

There are websites springing up, such as Urban Chicken Underground, and there is even a helpful 3-part series on poultry rearing in Organic Living.

Why would one want to raise chickens? (I ask myself that constantly, as I grew up on a farm and grew to hate the things)

You know what the chickens are eating, and therefore, you know what your family is consuming by way of meat and eggs. You also know the quality of life that those chickens have. Plus, what a fantastic learning experience for the kids. Your very own, organic, and "green" food supply can be as close as your backyard.

And really, is there a difference between a chicken coop and a dog house?

Chicken orders need to be in soon (now?), so I hear that she has gone ahead and ordered some feathered friends......and has a back-up foster family lined up, just in case.

Hopefully, things don't turn fowl, and that they will soon be stroking the plumage of their new pets through the wires of their poultry palace on their property.

(YIKES - too much coffee this morning!!)

I will keep you posted on this Manitowaning plea for poultry.