Letter from Ron Allensen, President of the Otter Valley naturalists:

Several people have requested I address council in regard to the issue of keeping chickens in
urban areas of Bayham. While it seems like a simple enough thing to regulate how many and
r:under what conditions chickens be kept. I feel the issue has degenerated into an unfortunate
conflict involving name calling and personal issues that are not really part of the issue at hand.
The long and involved bylaw proposed shows a good deal of work by Paul in preparing the draft
however I feel it is entirely too complex and encompassing for Bayham- Lets allow people the
few freedoms they still enjoy including the right to grow at least part of their own food if they
so desire. Eggs still are the nearly perfect food.

I have taken the liberty of composing a very simple bylaw that just regulates the keeping of
chickens. L don't believe we really need all the rest and who will enforce all those regulations.
So here is my bylaw which could be slightly modified .
Be it adopted that the keeping of chickens in the Municipality of Bayham shall be regulated by
this bylaw.
-That the number of chickens shall not exceed 4 per household or property.
-That they be housed in a suitably constructed, attractive and well maintained structure in the rear
yard.
-That the structure be suitably shielded from view from the neighboring properties.
-That no roosters be allowed to be kept.
-That if the chickens are allowed out of their cages, the back yard must be securely fenced and
screened to prevent their escape and that their wings be clipped to prevent their flying.
-The key subjective phrases in this bylaw; notable: "suitably constructed, attractive and well
maintained, and suitably shielded from neighboring properties, " are to be interpreted and
enforced at the discretion of the bylaw officer of the Municipality of Bayham.
Any conflicts that can not be resolved will result in a $50 fine for the first offense after a warning
and one week to comply. Subsequent increments of $100 in the fine for every additional cited
offense, after l0 day intervals.
If the keeper of the chickens fails to comply with the bylaw after the 4th offence, they shall be
required to get rid of the said chickens within 30 days.
Thank you for considering my input on this issue.

Sincerely, Ron Allensen

Letter of Support From Marion Rogers, Resident of Port Burwell

FW: Chickens in Bayham
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Sent: November 18, 2009 1:07 PM
To: Kyle Kruger
Subject: RE: Chickens in Bayham

Dear Mr. Kruger:
I am writing in support of the concerns voiced by Mr. Redsell over the manner in which complaints regarding his property have been handled by Mr.
Groenewald. What I have heard and read from Mr. Redsell does appear to be unfounded harrassment rather than efficient administration of existing bylaws. However, my opinion is based on one-sided information, as I have not heard what Mr. Groeneveld has to say.

I also am writing to support your suggestion of a method to deal with his concerns which is more likely to bear fruit, that is a written letter from Mr. Redsell to the Municipality for your office to address.

I would like to add my support for the concept of a municipal plebiscite to determine the legality of chickens. As a schoolteacher, I always had a variety of pets for my students, including mice, birds, and one year even a tarantula. I would love to have two chickens myself.

I hope that a win-win solution for all will be speedily achieved.
Regards,
Marion Rogers

Presentation to Bayham Council November 19,2009
re: Proposed Animal Control Bylaw presented by Beverley Wagar, Vienna

There are many reasons to defeat the motion to implement an animal control bylaw in Bayham, but I want to focus on just one of them: to ban backyard chickens is to diminish food security.
"Food security" refers to the availability of healthy food and whether one can afford it. For example, if the only local variety stores stock nothing but chips and snack food, and most people in the area can't afford to drive repeatedly to the nearest grocery store, then there is no food security.
According to the Vancouver Food Policy Assessment of 2005, supermarkets only stock about th¡ee days' supply of fresh food, so if supply lines were cut off by a natural disaster or catastrophe, even those who can afford it would quickly run out of safe, nutritious food. It's clear that if we want to increase regional food security, we need to reduce our reliance on imported food and encourage local food production that is accessible for everyone. A couple of chickens in a backyard coop is the ultimate form of local food production.

By banning backyard chickens, Bayham would be closing the door to an excellent source of dietary protein. Fresh fruits and vegetables can be grown even in small backyards. When it comes to supplying your own source of protein however, it's impossible to get Rover to lay breakfast each morning or fit Bessie the cow in your backyard. Chickens are small, easy to care for, and won't take up the entire yard.

A couple of chickens can provide daily eggs for families who may never even dream of a roast beef dinner-- people who'll never know they're part of the Local Food Movement. A trip to the backyard coop requires only a few minutes, no vehicle, and no gas. Even mothers in large households can
manage to feed hens, collect eggs, and do the basic coop cleaning necessary.

The issue of food security goes hand in hand with poverty and Bayham has its share of poor citizens. More than its share, actually. As you know from last year's delegation from the Corner Cupboard Food Bank in Aylmer, Bayham is home to a disproportionate number of Aylmer's food bank
users. Why would Bayham want to prevent people from feeding themselves? Are poor people expected to survive on handouts when a few chickens could provide good food and increased food independence. Remember the adage "teach a person to fish..."? Well, teach a person to care for hens and you feed him forever.

Related to food security is the added benefit for vegetable gardens. Chickens can help reduce the reliance on purchased compost or fertilizer for home-grown vegetables. Our two hens, Fluffy and Crown Royal, are great little garden helpers-- their manure-laden bedding provides excellent feedstock for my compost tumblers. As well, the Ladies love to help me dig a garden bed- they turn garden-destroying grubs into yummy eggs with amazing efficiency.

In closing, I want to say a few words about the chicken problem in Bayham: there is no chicken problem in Bayham.

Bayham has problems, to be sure, but Fluft and Crown Royal aren't among them. The current laws do not prohibit chickens as pets (and they're far more interesting than budgies or pigeons!) or hobbies (what a great way to teach kids about responsibility and where food comes from) so where are the hordes of would-be chicken keepers? It's obvious that the current "green light for chickens" is adequate. If it doesn't cover all the possible misuses and abuses, well, no law can do that. A ban would just drive the backyard chickens, figuratively speaking, underground. Don't turn FluS and Crownie into
outlaws!

Bayham has problems, to be sure, but Fluffy and Crown Royal aren't among them. The current laws do not prohibit chickens as pets (and they're far more interesting than budgies or pigeons!) or hobbies (what a great way to teach kids about responsibility and where food comes from) so where are the hordes of would-be chicken keepers? It's obvious that the current "green light for chickens" is adequate. If it doesn't cover all the possible misuses and abuses, well, no law can do that. A ban would just drive the backyard chickens, figuratively speaking, underground. Don't turn Fluffy and Crownie into outlaws!

The commercial egg industry is not under seige here. Most people will still drive to the mall to buy insipid eggs from miserable, antibiotic-stuffed, genetically uniform, battery hens that are deprived of all natural behaviours. But for people who want local food that's undeniably healthy and not dependent on a global system of energy-intensive animal factories, backyard chickens are part of the
solution.

The commercial egg industry is not under seige here. Most people will still drive to the mall to buy insipid eggs from miserable, antibiotic-stuffed, genetically uniform, battery hens that are deprived of all natural behaviours. But for people who want local food that's undeniably healthy and not dependent on a global system of energy-intensive animal factories, backyard chickens are part of the
solution.