Canadian families are feeling the pressure of rising grocery prices, higher living costs, and the growing challenge of providing healthy food for their households.

For many families in St. Thomas, having backyard hens is not a nuisance issue but rather about food security, education, responsibility, sustainability, and self-reliance.

Fresh eggs are one of the most nutritious and versatile foods a family can have access to. For households with dietary restrictions, health-related food needs, and or growing children, a small backyard flock can make a meaningful financial and nutritional difference.

Backyard hens also provide valuable hands-on learning opportunities for children. They teach responsibility, animal care, biology, sustainability, nutrition, and where food actually comes from. These lessons are becoming increasingly important in today’s society.

Many nearby municipalities within 10 to 20 minutes of St. Thomas already permit small backyard flocks under regulated conditions. There are 26 municipalities in Ontario that allow backyard chickens, including larger urban Canadian cities like London, Kitchener, Guelph, Brantford, and Niagara Falls, showing that they can exist safely and responsibly in urban communities when clear rules are in place.

Responsible backyard hens, when properly maintained, produce minimal noise and can be managed cleanly and safely within residential areas.

Responsible backyard hens can help:

• Families offset rising grocery costs
• Support local food sustainability and independence
• Reduce food waste through composting and natural recycling
• Provide natural pest control in gardens and backyards
• Encourage stronger community awareness around food systems and sustainable living

This petition asks the City of St. Thomas to reconsider the current by-law and explore a fair, regulated system that allows residents to responsibly keep a small number of hens, depending on lot size, under reasonable standards. 

We support:

• Small flock limits based on lot size and setback guidelines
• No roosters in residential areas
• Reasonable inspection requirements
• Sanitation and property maintenance standards
• Complaint-based enforcement where legitimate concerns exist
• Responsible animal welfare standards and oversight

Many families in St. Thomas are simply looking for practical ways to become more self-sufficient during difficult economic times.

St. Thomas families deserve the opportunity to responsibly participate in sustainable food practices already permitted in many near-by communities.

By signing this petition, you are supporting responsible backyard hens, food sustainability, family education, and a more balanced approach to current local by-laws.

Please sign and share to help bring this conversation back to St. Thomas City Council.