Locals are advocating to have urban hens in the city of Grande Prairie through an upcoming open house. David Braun and Rebekah Keyes explain that they are looking to build support for people in the city who want to raise the chickens in their backyard. Both of them see a coop as the next step to producing local food. Braun says the animals are a good addition to the gardening they already do at home.
“There is so many productive uses for chickens like the eggs and the compost. The chickens will eat any vegetable or fruit scraps that are on your table. We compost as it is but this adds another layer to it. We feed them scraps and they compost it down.”
Keyes says a lot of people are worried about the smell or the noise that the hens would have, but he says these animals are not noisy or any messier than dogs. She explains that the most noise that can be heard is mid-morning when a hens is laying an egg.
“I really believe in food security I want to grow as much as I can in my own yard. I think having chickens is another link in the chain of being able to produce food more locally.”
The group is hoping to have a bylaw passed that would allow up to four hens per household. Keyes says the first step is getting the support and getting the information out there. The community can learn more about urban hens on March 15th at the Grande Prairie Library.