Dear Editor:
Due to everything becoming more expensive in the Lower Mainland and Earth Day rattling around in my head, I'm looking into creative (or old-fashioned) ways to save money and our lovely planet.
My initial thought, amongst many others, during Earth Day, was to erect a chicken coop in our extremely large yard, in the Government Road area. A family of five (that's us) spends approximately $600 on organic free range eggs each year, and I promptly went to investigate the costs and management of such an investment and personal production program.
My planning came to abrupt stop, when I Googled "Burnaby chickens" and found that Mayor Derek Corrigan and the council will not be revisiting the bylaw to enable Burnaby residents (like their neighbours in Vancouver) to farm chickens, on a family scale basis.
Mayor Corrigan: Can you let us know why we cannot put a chicken coop up in our own backyards? It is a green activity, there is no excessive waste of resource (water for swimming pools), and it puts our children in touch with food production on a daily basis. If the reason there is simply pressure from the community to avoid chicken coops, due to the concern of over production (and black market sales), can it simply just be restricted?
Why does Vancouver encourage chickens in the yard, but not Burnaby? I'm just a little confused.
Mayor Corrigan: If I put a chicken coop up, what are the consequences? Surely it's easier to pay a chicken licence that's the equivalent of a dog licence, which could bring revenue into the council?
The funds could police/fine over production and create a profit for additional educational or green resources. What do you think? I like that thought.
Mrs. C. Harries, Burnaby
