At the Wellington North Council meeting earlier this week, council received a petition from a resident regarding backyard chickens.
CAO Mike Givens says council heard the petition, but did not support what was requested in it.
"The proposal itself was looking for potentially 4 or 5 backyard hens, and council was not supportive of that, and this is the 3rd time this has been proposed to council in the last 5 years, and council has never wavered. They're not supportive of it."
Givens says council has maintained their concerns in a number of areas anytime this type of proposal has been presented to them.
"They think there's risks associated with noise, smell, and the other potential of having an impact on poultry farms in the area. We actually had a deputation that appeared, as well, that was a poultry farmer, and he provided council with some context around what the risks are around backyard chickens to poultry farming in the area. He also suggested that council contact OMAFRA."
Wellington North council has instructed staff to do just that, Givens adds, and they will contact OMAFRA and get even more information regarding the potential risks of backyard chickens and the potential risks to farming operations.