LAURIE WEIR
A controversial proposal to legalize backyard hens in Smiths Falls is on hold for at least another week, after council received a report from a local animal sanctuary urging them to reject the pilot program.
During a council meeting on Tuesday, April 22, councillors agreed to defer a decision on the Backyard Hen Pilot Program bylaw to allow more time to hear from Liz Wheeler, co-founder of Secondhand Stories Chicken Sanctuary in Rideau Lakes.
“As a sanctuary that receives thousands of surrender requests — many from backyard chicken owners — we are on the frontlines of this issue,” Wheeler wrote. “Failing to heed these warnings will create a public health and animal welfare crisis that the town is unprepared to manage.”
Critical gaps exposed
Wheeler’s report outlined more than two dozen unaddressed concerns in the proposed bylaw — including no plan for veterinary care or animal sheltering, no registration or inspection system, no contingency plan for surrendered birds, and no protocols to prevent the spread of avian flu.
“It’s not a matter of if, but when HPAI will begin to spread from wild birds to backyard hens, putting humans at risk in Smiths Falls,” the report warned.
Wheeler also criticized the removal of licensing and inspections in the revised bylaw — a move council made in an attempt to reduce red tape and focus on complaint-based enforcement. She noted that Toronto, Ottawa, and several other Ontario municipalities have cancelled or declined similar programs after seeing high costs, disease concerns, and growing community conflict.
“There is nowhere for unwanted chickens to go,” Wheeler wrote. “Municipalities that permit hens but ban roosters, without providing clear guidance, are creating an ethical double standard. These animals do not simply disappear. They suffer, and often, they die.”
Council divided, delays vote
Despite months of discussion and revisions to the pilot bylaw, Wheeler’s last-minute report gave councillors pause.
Coun. Jay Brennan asked if there was “an appetite for deferral,” suggesting it might be premature to vote without reviewing the new material.
Coun. Chris McGuire said he was comfortable moving forward, noting the issue had already been “debated to death.” Coun. Jennifer Miller agreed.
Coun. Steve Robinson said, “I would have liked to hear from her. I just wish she had come forward sooner.”
Coun. Dawn Quinn echoed that sentiment, saying if the author of the report still wanted to speak to council, she should be given the chance.
Ultimately, council agreed to delay the vote.
Not just about eggs
While supporters of the bylaw have pitched backyard hens as a way to promote food security and sustainable living, Wheeler pushed back hard on that narrative, calling it “romanticized and misleading.”
“The average cost of a compliant coop is over $1,300,” she said. “This is not a program designed to address food insecurity. It benefits already privileged households while exposing animals, neighbours, and municipal resources to significant risk.”
She also challenged the assumption that hens are quiet or low-maintenance pets. “They can be loud, especially during egg-laying or social disputes, and they’re vulnerable to predators, disease, and abandonment when care standards aren’t enforced.”
Council is expected to revisit the bylaw at its next meeting.
“If a dog or cat were kept under the same conditions this bylaw allows for chickens, there would be outrage,” Wheeler said. “We know chickens are sentient individuals capable of feeling joy, grief, and pain — so why do we accept so much less for them?”
To learn more about the concerns raised by Secondhand Stories Chicken Sanctuary and why they’re urging council to reject the bylaw, see our related story: Sanctuary sounds alarm on Smiths Falls backyard hen pilot
Mrs. Wheeler is correct. I have run a chickensanctuary for the past 7 years and all that she has stated are true. I was overwhelmed with requests to take upwards of many hundreds of unwanted roosters, due to backyard uncontrolled breeding. Roosters do not disappear. They require the same care as any other pet. With avian flu on the horizon and heading our way fast, and people without proper animal husbandry skills, this is a dangerous proposal to allow in Smiths Falls and elsewhere. Most backyard chicken owners know nothing of health issues, how to correctly treat these as well as where if possible to find a veterinarian who will see chickens. They are few and far between. Animal care for chickens costs upwards of $500-1000 per bird if not more per year. I support Secondhand Stories in their call to reject this bylaw.