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Smiths Falls pushes forward with backyard hen pilot project

LAURIE WEIR

Will it be an eggcellent adventure for residents of Smiths Falls?

Smiths Falls council voted Monday, May 5 to move forward with a one-year backyard hen pilot project, despite warnings from a local animal welfare advocate, and divided public sentiment. Two delegations — one opposing the bylaw and one in favour — laid out conflicting visions of what chickens in town might mean for residents.

Manure Math and Biosecurity Concerns

Liz Wheeler, co-founder of Secondhand Stories Chicken Sanctuary in Rideau Lakes, spoke against the bylaw. With more than a decade of experience in animal care and nonprofit governance, Wheeler argued that the town is rushing ahead without safeguards. Her data-heavy presentation emphasized risks to public health, the environment, and animal welfare.

“Six hens generate 27 kilograms of manure monthly,” Wheeler told council. “With 459 households expressing interest, that’s 12.4 tonnes of waste every month — and nearly 149 tonnes annually.” The town’s proposed 100-litre manure storage limit per household, she said, would be overwhelmed in under three months, with no plan for composting, pickup, or enforcement.

Wheeler also raised alarms about avian influenza, citing concerns from the World Health Organization and the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit. She pointed out that companion animals, including a dog in Oshawa, have died from the virus. Without licensing or inspection processes, she said, Smiths Falls would be unable to monitor outbreaks, enforce biosecurity, or trace disease transmission.

Beyond disease, Wheeler noted that chickens attract predators and rodents, pose noise and odour issues, and — without contingency planning — risk abandonment, neglect, or death once their egg-laying days end. “We already have a feral cat crisis,” she said, noting the town’s not ready for feral chickens. 

Wheeler said the majority of surrendered chickens in this region come from overwhelmed backyard owners. She emphasized that Secondhand Stories is the only facility locally accepting chickens, and warned that Smiths Falls is not prepared for the volume of rehoming requests that typically follow the launch of such programs.

She also pointed out that the town’s own survey results showed a more divided community than headline numbers suggested. While 70 per cent supported the idea of a chicken pilot, 52 per cent of open-ended comments were negative — citing noise, smell, disease risk, and lack of enforcement as top concerns.

Eggonomics Don’t Add Up

Wheeler challenged the notion that backyard hens could ease food insecurity. She estimated the total monthly cost of maintaining six hens — not including vet care or adequate shelter — at about $70, with the hens producing roughly 90 eggs. That’s 78 cents per egg, compared to about 31 cents per egg at a local grocery store. “That’s a 252 per cent increase,” she said. 

Rebuttal and a Call for Perspective

Danny Radford, who initially proposed the bylaw in 2024, took the opposing view. While acknowledging some shortcomings in the bylaw draft, Radford argued that the risks had been overstated. He challenged several of Wheeler’s statistics and offered alternative calculations.

Radford disputed the egg cost analysis, suggesting a more realistic approach would amortize coop costs over several years and assume higher egg-laying efficiency. By his math, the actual cost difference came out to about $1 more per dozen backyard eggs — not a 252 per cent increase. “All eggs are not created equal,” he said. “This is apples to oranges.”

He also pushed back on the significance of the survey’s negative comments. Radford noted that while the comment section showed 52 per cent opposition, open-ended responses tend to attract more criticism due to social media negativity bias. He emphasized that 70 per cent of total survey respondents still supported the idea of a backyard hen program.

Radford downplayed concerns about avian flu, noting that most documented outbreaks in Ontario were at commercial farms. He said with proper hygiene, coop covers, and public education, risks could be minimized. He urged council to look at successful models in other municipalities and adapt the bylaw accordingly.

Moving Ahead

Council ultimately voted to proceed with the pilot, and supported it by a recorded 4-3 vote during the following council meeting. Councillors Chris McGuire, Peter McKenna, Jennifer Miller and Mayor Shawn Pankow voted in favour of the project.

Backyard hen pilot project divides Smiths Falls council

The pilot project in Smiths Falls for backyard hens is gaining traction, but needs some tweaking before moving ahead. Photo credit: Pixabay.
LAURIE WEIR

The backyard hen pilot project has ruffled some feathers around the horseshoe.

During a committee of the whole meeting on Monday, March 23, Fire Chief Rick Chesebrough presented a revised report to council for further consideration. His recommendation was not to proceed with the project at this time, citing concerns about avian flu as the primary reason.

Council first discussed the program in July 2024 when it decided to explore permitting backyard hens within town limits. The proposal followed several discussions, including a Planning Advisory Committee vote in favour of zoning bylaw amendments in December 2024.

Staff outlined potential challenges, including limited training and resources, veterinary access, carcass disposal, enforcement difficulties, and logistical issues. There were also concerns about increased wildlife presence and the risk of avian influenza.

The program was proposed as a one-year pilot, with budgetary implications to be determined.

Coun. Chris McGuire said the risk level associated with backyard hens did not justify a 24/7 response, as indicated in the proposed bylaw, which was modelled after Carleton Place’s regulations.

“If we’re concerned about staff resources, there are ways to adjust the bylaw to reduce the impact,” he said. “Backyard hen owners shouldn’t be held to the same standard as dog or cat owners. The risk posed by a neglected dog or cat in the community is far greater than that of chickens.”

He added that requiring stringent oversight for an animal that relies on its owners for survival was excessive. He supported moving the bylaw forward under a complaint-driven process and without a licensing requirement.

Coun. Jay Brennan said he had never supported the project and never would.

“The avian flu risk only reinforces my opposition,” he said. “Even without that, I still wouldn’t support it. Livestock like chickens, cows, horses, and pigs belong in rural areas, not in town. Period.”

Coun. Dawn Quinn also opposed the project, citing her experience raising chickens for eggs and meat.

“There isn’t enough room in town for backyard hens without impacting neighbours,” she said. “We don’t have the infrastructure to manage a backyard chicken program. Chickens are meant to be in the country.”

Quinn also noted the town already struggles to manage its feral cat population.

Coun. Peter McKenna agreed with McGuire, suggesting the project move forward as a small pilot without excessive regulation.

“I don’t support hiring new bylaw officers,” he said. “I don’t think that’s necessary. Let’s start small and see how it goes.”

Mayor Shawn Pankow acknowledged the complexity of the issue but said he preferred enabling new initiatives rather than prohibiting them outright.

He noted that the health unit has received 50,000 avian flu vaccines.

“That’s a proactive step,” he said, adding that federal support would be crucial if avian flu became a broader concern.

“I’m undecided on this,” he said. While he acknowledged potential challenges, he pointed out that many municipalities permit backyard hens.

Although Pankow did not see the project as a significant cost-saving measure after the initial investment in chickens, feed, and a coop, he said it provided residents with more control over their food supply.

“It gives people the freedom to choose how they get their eggs and what type of eggs they eat.”

Pankow said he would like to see insights from other municipalities on how they manage backyard hen programs.

Council directed the fire chief to gather feedback from municipalities that allow backyard hens and to revise the bylaw accordingly. Coun. Jennifer Miller, who chaired the meeting, supported moving the project forward.

“We’d like to see the bylaw proposal again before making a final decision on the pilot,” she said.

Miller also requested an operational plan and further feedback from municipalities with similar programs.