As a resident of Cornwall, I am personally experiencing the escalating cost of living. Necessities, including food, are becoming increasingly expensive. I believe allowing us to raise backyard chickens can act as a practical solution to alleviate some food stress. Not only can this provide families with fresh eggs, but it also brings our community back to simpler, healthier times when we relied more on the land for sustenance. Our grandparents had the wisdom of living off the land; why not bring back that very essence in our modern world?

Raising chickens can serve as more than just a means to obtain our food. It can become a rich learning experience for our children, teaching them responsibility and giving them a clear understanding of where our food comes from. Backyard chicken-keeping is not only a step towards sustainable living, but a stride towards the education of the younger generation.

Legalizing the keeping of backyard chickens in urban areas is not unheard of. Various cities worldwide, including Seattle, Vancouver, and New York, allow their residents to raise chickens (Source: Humane Society). Why can't Cornwall embrace a similar approach? If other cities can integrate this practice into their urban landscape with positive results, surely our Cornwall community can do the same.

Please sign this petition to help us gain the right to raise chickens in our backyard. Support us in creating a sustainable community where we can feed ourselves, educate our children, and admire the wisdom of our ancestors.

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An example of residential chicken bylaw:

1) The quantity of egg laying chickens one resident can have varies on the size of the coop available. It is mandatory to have 5 square feet per chicken of coop space plus 5 square feet of enclosed outdoor space available per chicken.

      i) the coop must have a lockable chicken access door that is attached to the fully enclosed outdoor space

       ii) the coop waste must be disposed of in the green compost bin

      iii) the coop waste must be dealt with in a timely manner to avoid complaints 

      Iv) no roosters, or other chickens such as meat birds.

       v) the chickens cannot violate the pre-existing noise bylaw 079-1996.

     vi) all measures must be taken to prevent access to the chickens by predators and pests

      vii) residents must purchase a yearly permit for the coop

     viii) residents must have a license and tag for each chicken as per the Animal Control By-Law 112-1998

     iv) residents are subject to inspection