Backyard Chickens | Sustainable Agriculture

Backyard Chickens

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the promotion of sustainable agriculture

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kevin le

A study of Sustainable Agricutlure

Backyard Chickens

Written by

Kevin Le

Jun 17th, 2021

Contents 03

Table of Content

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Introduction

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History

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Implications from the City

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Community Efforts

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Disucssion with City Counsil

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Q&A with FeatherField Farms

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Survey& Data

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Run Design

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Wildlife

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Reflection

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Page 4

Introduction

Why backyard chickens?

Chickens have become a component of the human food chain as a source of protein and nutrition for thousands of years. However, because of the high demand for chickens and eggs in industries, such as fast-food restaurants, raising large sums of chicken raises questions concerning ethics. Backyard chickens are a clear and excellent method to tackle and not support the chicken industry. They are also great sources to contribute to sustainable agriculture right in your backyard with their natural fertilizer, kitchen scrap composters, organic eggs and if you are up to the task, chemical-free, natural meat. Despite the fact that it may take more time for backyard chickens to grow, in contrast to chicken farmers in the industry, it is a more humane method of raising chickens. Allowing them to grow naturally, have space to walk around, interact with one another, lay eggs and watch their chicks grow is much better than living in confined spaces where they are slaughtered on their eighth week after hatching.

Currently and since 2011, Coquitlam has emplaced a bylaw that prohibits chickens from being raised in one's backyard however, cities such as Surrey and Vancouver have allowed residences to raise a maximum of 4 hens as long as they have been registered in the city. As a previous duck owner, I find this bylaw to hit very close to home and furthermore, unfair due to the fact dogs and cats are allowed while hens who are kept in safe enclosures are prohibited. Through this project, I hope to understand and recognize the reasons why chickens are prohibited and potentially change the cities views on backyard chickens.

What is

Sustainable Agriculture?

Sustainable agriculture is a method of farming without compromising the environment for both current and future generations. It is a custom that does not disrupt the ecosystem of other organisms living on Earth to meet the needs of society with foods and materials.

Sustainable agriculture is the way to go to extend life on Earth while also promoting healthy lifestyles.

History According to Phillip Clauer, a Professor of Agricultural Sciences, the domestication of chickens has dated back to approximately 2000 B.C. (or 4,009 years ago) that is "...traced back to four species of wild jungle fowl from Southeast Asia..." Believed by many anthropologists, chickens first domesticated not to eat, however, to be used for religious purposes and cockfighting. Just 2200 years later, they were then first consumed in substantial numbers and it is shown according to a recent report from an archaeological dig in Israel.

1901 - 2000 20st Century In the 20th century, the chicken was not considered a livestock animal considering basic essentials such as water and sufficient feed were difficult to access. Keeping in mind that chickens were regarded as food rather than pets thus, they were only raised on primarily family farms with flocks of less than 400 birds. From 1900 to 1920, chicken meat was viewed as a delicacy while chicken eggs were a luxury because of insufficient chicken owners. On an annual basis, the standard chicken lays between 80 to 150 eggs each however, due to the lack of built coops we see today and the chicken diet being whatever they can forage, grains, scraps and buttermilk, the mortality rate of chickens was 40%. Moving into the 1920s to 1930s, the demand for chicken meat and eggs increased thus the creation of confined housing and caged systems were invented. With the invention, hens were laying up to 250 eggs per year, and mortality rates dropped to 5%. Despite the positive outcomes, the introduction of animal abuse began to emerge with aspects such as force-feeding, confined spaces, and terrible environmental conditions that lead to the formulation of diseases in chickens. From 1950 to 1990, chickens were no longer considered luxury foods and now with the invention of refrigeration, it allowed industries to store them for much longer. Between these years, the production of chicken meat skyrocketed, hence average flock sizes were increased thus the chicken industry had to tackle and prevent diseases among flocks through medication and vaccinations for each chicken.

2001 - 2021 21st Century In the United States alone, roughly 280 million hens are raised, laying approximately 75 billion eggs annually, and in addition, chicken is the most consumed meat in the United States.

However, due to the abundance of chickens being raised and the demands of society, numerous industries have resulted in using unconventional practices to raise poultry efficiently. A statistic

by SPCA states that "Eighty-four percent of Canadian egg-laying hens spend their entire lives in cages. Around 66 percent of caged birds are housed in conventional 'battery' cages, while the remaining 18 percent are housed in 'enriched' slightly larger cages".

What is most disappointing and disheartening is that "on average, each hen is given less space than a standard sheet of printed paper" and yet it is legal (SPCA).

Consequently, many hens being raised in cages result to have osteoporosis (or weak bones) which causes pain and distress. In addition, due to being in cages, the beaks of hens' are frequently trimmed to prevent injury if they start pecking at each other as a response to stress. As a result, if done inaccurately, it may cause perpetual pain.

When it comes to raising chicken for meat, typically it takes a total of 16 to 24 weeks for a young chicken to be considered mature. In contrast to the meat industry, around week six, chickens are as large as a grown adult, ready to be slaughtered.

Although, their flesh grows, at week six, the chicken's skeletal system is still in development thus, many chickens become immobilized causing many diseases.

However, what the consumers are not aware of is the conditions of broiler chickens (specific chicken raised for meat due to genetics). Typically, these chickens are confined to huge, windowless shelters each holding tens of thousands of birds confined to huge, windowless shelters each holding thousands of birds. While chickens can operate effectively in small groups where each bird can find his or her place in the pecking order (a ranking system among chickens), establishing a social structure in such vast numbers is nearly impossible. As a result, the birds frequently peck at one another, inflicting damage and even death.

Implications BYLAW NO. 4240, 2011 "A Bylaw to regulate the care and control of animals and to establish and operate a municipal animal shelter in the City of Coquitlam."

POULTRY: The bylaw prohibits any forms of poultry which "includes a domestic fowl, waterfowl, pigeons and peafowl, but exlucdes species of birds that are normally kept inside a dwelling;" EXCEPTIONS: The bylaw states, the possession of animals is only permitted under the "...Zoning Bylaw or enactment, a person must not keep any poultry or livestock, temporarily or permanetly, in a dwelling unit" (6.1) To sum up bylaw 6.1, it states the possession of any forms of poultry or livestock is premitted to lands who fall under the Zoning Bylaw. The Zoning bylaw in correlation to poultry would fall under the following : 1. Agricultural and Resource Zones - farm-zoned properties - properties with an acre or more

Community Efforts Stories & News

TRICITY news

"Plucky Coquitlam girl wants backyard chickens"

Grant Granger and Diane Strandberg of TriCity News wrote an article addressing a mother and daughter who started a petition to permit chickens in the Tri-Cities. Serena Perone, the little girl, says, "At first, I just wanted them as pets because they're, like, cute." Later on, though, she appreciates them for their nutritional and organic worth. "When they run around, the eggs taste better and are healthier," she says.

However, Serena's family is not the only family who wishes to have backyard

"Port Moody family to challenge backyard chicken bylaw"

chickens and, the petition on change.org reflects people with similar interests.

Another article touching upon backyard chickens is written by Mario Bartel recently this May of 2021. A resident of Port Moody, Dana Dunne addresses her thoughts and viewpoints on the bylaw which treats livestock pets as pets that are kept only "within a dwelling unit" (Bylaw No. 2677).

Due to the fact, Dana is raising her chickens outdoors, she violates the bylaw and currently, the city is advising that she gets rid of them. Dana states, "Food shortages are real. We want that little bit of protection. We [also] don't have to buy eggs". She also adds that she has never had issues with predators because of the coop she had built.

Organization Thoughts & Opinions

Coquitlam | City Counsil

Surrey | Feather Field Farms

Thoughts & Opinions

BC Hobby Farm Thoughts & Opinions

Conclusion

After over a week's worth of waiting, I have received a total of 6 responses from chicken enthusiasts around British Columbia and have concluded that they all believe Coquitlam should consider allowing backyard chickens and specifically hens into Coquitlam. What many of them had in common was that their chickens provided them with organic eggs and fertilizer for soil acting as factors of sustainable agriculture.

Housing Design Tackling Bylaw Bellow, I have designed a coop for a flock of four hens designed specifically for both the safety and happiness of the chickens through following the many guidelines of both Vancouver and Surrey bylaws in regards to raising backyard Chickens.

Dimensions Recommended : 32 Square Feet - 4 Chickens Flooring & Walls of Chicken Run - Preferably Concrete Flooring followed by a layer of wood chips on top as bedding. Wood chips are an amazing source of bedding due to the fact they are able to absorb and act as composters for chicken droppings. Woodchips also release an aroma especially if cedar or pine is chosen thus minimalizing smell.

Walls of the Chicken Run must be made of 1/4 Inch Chicken Wire Mesh to prevent rodents and birds from entering.

Roof - Any materials which do not collect heat, resist heavy rain and must be inclinded to allow water to run.

Additional Requirements - Feeders, Roosts, Bush(es), Recommended to have furnishing to allow chickens to sit in or hide behind, dust bath (play sand) to clean feathers and remove any parasites.

Dimensions Recommended: 8 Square Feet - 4 Chickens Coop - Insulated walls with two nesting boxes enabling chickens to lay comfortably. Recommended for nesting boxes to be suspended in air against a wall a few inches to act also as a roost.

Examples

Detering Wildlife Tackling Bylaw

After a safe enclosure is built, deterring wildlife away from the property becomes the second priority in order to tackle and close the bylaw in Coquitlam. Equipment required to deter such animals would be: Motion / Timer-activated outdoor lighting around chicken enclosures Electric Fence Netting around Chicken Run Perimeters

Motion Lighting - Deters Racoons & Skunks due to being nocturnal mammals who scavenge typically during the night.

They have highly sensitive eye sights adjusted for the dark thus flashing lights cause panic and confusion.

Electric Fencing - Effective on any forms of wildlife.

Wildlife & Parks MUNDY PARK - The Park is a combination of woodland and forest trees that play an important part in the park's environment as a temperate rainforest. Many bird, insect, and animal species, including owls, butterflies, and bats, live in the tree environment. Larger species, such as deer and black bears, visit the forest at different periods of the year.

COLONY FARM PARK - Colony Farm Park is a regional park which has a habitat with over 200 bird speicies, acting as a wonderful trail for both cyclists and walkers, displaying the great mountains and the Coquitlam River.

POCO TRAIL PARK - A trail consisting of the South Pitt River, Colony Farm, Coquitlam River and North Pitt River, the Poco Trail consists of a habitat of bears and birds.

BELCARRA REGIONAL PARK - This park contains a large amount of bears and cougars dwelling in the park.

Bear Sightings The maps below are a collection of data from animal sightings recorded over the course of a week. The data includes bear, cougar, deer, and coyote sightings gathered and designed by WildSafeBC, which helps BC residents to be aware of and careful of the animals around them. Analyzing the data on a seasonal scale, it has appeared the animals listed wander the city most during the Summer and Fall in preparation for the coming winter. The majority of these sightings have been reported to be bears and coyotes scavenging trash thus, is a clear indicator that they are in search of food.

Below listed are a set of data and time were bears are most abundant in the city.

- A contrast between Coqutilam & Surrey

June 8th, 2021 - June 15th, 2021

September 7th, 2020 - September 15, 2020

Reflection After looking further into Coquitlam's landscaping and data around the habitats living around and within Coquitlam, I have concluded that Coquitlam has installed these bylaws (in regards to raising livestock in your backyard and specifically chickens) to effectively deter animals. Analyzing data collected on WARP (or Wildlife Alert Reporting Program) designed by WildSafeBC, in contrast to Surrey, Coquitlam appears to have the most bear, cougar and coyote sightings within the city with many appearing in the Summer and Fall before the winter. Due to the fact these animals cannot find food within the parks and forests, many have to rely on venturing into the city in search of food. As a result, having backyard chickens (even if kept in runs), may not harm your chickens however, it may harm the people around you such as neighbours on walks, relaxing in their yard, etc. Through these findings, It is personally sad to say that the future for backyard chickens in the city is very slim due to the wildlife around us and it is necessary that we ensure the safety of others before our passions and the things we enjoy doing. However, on the contrary, the reality for backyard chickens outside the city near the cities Port Moody and New Westminster may be a possibility in the future. Although bears occasionally wander down southwest of Coquitlam, the city remains the hotspot for bear sightings due to accessibility from Belcarra Regional Park, Eagle Mountain, and Minnekhada Regional Park thus probabilities are slim. Reflecting upon the final project, if there is a next time, I would put more thought into the proposal before proceeding. Due to the fact this project could have not had any form of post data when it comes to pushing towards change, the topic was not an effective choice to present social change. Bylaws are set in place for a reason and in regards to backyard chickens is because of the surrounding ecosystems Coquitlam circled by. Before doing any forms of research, I believed the city was unfair due to the fact the other cities allowed backyard chickens. However, now reflecting on the research, the answer has been clear to me.

1.5 Weeks Old

However, although the effectiveness isn't there, the final project has opened me to the wildlife which surrounds the city I live in and furthermore, took away the frustration I held towards the city especially after my ducks were recently taken away. Nevertheless, on that note, I'd also like to thank you for teaching me about Social Justice. It was a course I did not intend to take but I do not regret taking it whatsoever! I have learned a lot, especially when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community and it is something I will still need to continue learning upon especially when going into the real world after high school. Social Justice has allowed me to be more aware of the community around me and as well as the community that surrounds our very planet. Everything is intertwind with one another and through the teachings within Social Justice, I am more aware of the details the world presents us through media and groups, and individuals of our world.

Thank you again !

3 Years Old

A study of Sustainable Agricutlure

Backyard Chickens

Written by

Kevin Le