Burlington Chickens

Chickens have existed in cities since the dawn of time, and they still exist all over the world. Benefits to raising hens in the City of Burlington include:

1. Fresh, healthy, delicious eggs, free of pesticides and antibiotics.

2. Chickens eat table scrapes, reducing municipal solid waste.

3. Chickens produce a rich fertilizer by-product, high in nitrogen, eliminating the need for petrochemical fertilizers.

4. Educational - teaches children where our food comes from and demonstrates responsible pet ownership.

5. Great pets - Chickens are people-friendly. Their behaviour is interesting and entertaining.

6.Chickens eat bugs, reducing our backyard pest population.

7.Growing your own food is proactive and helps the sustainable food movement.

Health:

It is important to note that eggs from backyard chickens are healthier than store-bought eggs:

⅓ less cholesterol, 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids, 3 times more vitamin E, 7 times more beta carotene.

Furthermore, backyard chickens are much less likely to become infected with avian influenza and provide little opportunity for the highly-pathogenic strain to develop, as compared to intensively farmed eggs (Dr. Michael Greger).

Lessons Learned:

Other cities within Canada have legalized backyard hens without issue, including Brampton, Niagara Falls, Victoria, Surrey and Vancouver. Over 86 cities in the U.S. have legalized backyard chickens. Roosters are not permitted.

The city of Burlington is a proactive leader in environmental and health initiatives, including local food. Backyard hens are a perfect fit.