CHICKENS WERE on the menu last night as Terrace city councillors talked about allowing backyard hens to nest on residential properties.
Although keeping chickens has been forbidden here since 1991, city council is looking at changing animal control bylaws to allow up to four hens per property for personal use.
Part of the rational for allowing backyard hens is that it will increase food security, reduce Terrace's carbon footprint and lower pesticide use on lawns as the birds snack on grub from the grass.
But not everyone will be allowed to harvest eggs from their own backyard. Condo dwellers and those living in town homes can't keep coops due to space limitations.
City staff suggested a one-time registration fee of $15. Homes wanting coops will have to register so the city can track the coops and store data to measure success.
As of last night, council approved three readings of the proposed bylaw changes. They will be looking again at this bylaw change in the coming weeks.
The bylaw is restricted to hens only — no roosters allowed.