This spring, there has been nothing but trouble at the henhouse for North Bay resident Brent Johnson.
"I keep strictly hens, no roosters. Nobody needs that wake-up call first thing in the morning," said backyard chicken advocate Johnson, when asked his preference of pets. "Besides, a hen clucking is quieter than a dog barking."
In late March, Johnson was forced to relocate his four pet hens after a neighbour filed a complaint. He was hand-delivered a notice from by-law enforcement that he had one week to let the chickens fly the coop or face penalties. Under zoning guidelines, chickens are only permitted on hobby farms on land zoned as rural. A by-law passed in 1994 prohibits domestic fowl within the city.
See: City squawks at Grandpa's pet chickens
Johnson gave a riveting speech at Tuesday's City Council meeting. With a deep baritone voice and an entrancing long white beard that moved in concert with his words, Johnson laid out his case in this municipal game of chicken. Not once, not twice, but thrice, Johnson implored councillors to bring forth a motion reversing what he sees as an unnecessary regulation, to no avail.
"The hens have been 're-homed.' We drove an hour-and-a-half to do so. They are a Heritage breed bird, which is very expensive to buy. They range from $30 to $800 each," explained Johnson following his presentation.
Johnson continued, "Other municipalities are allowing six [hens]. Four hens, based on my research gives four eggs every day. Four a day during the course of a week, that's a big omelette, baby." In his presentation, Johnson proposed a registration fee for keeping the animals, as well as a handling course for owners.
Curses, like chickens, come home to roost. Asked what other courses of action he can take if he is not allowed to bring his four hens back, Johnson smiled and pointed out that by-law 151-93 prohibiting "domestic fowl, cattle, goats, swans, horses, sheep, mink or foxes," makes no mention of "lions and tigers and bears. I could have pigs, they are not on the list, but my wife is leaning more towards ostriches and emus."
Johnson is not one to count his chickens before they're hatched, but he is hopeful that Council will be open to what he deems a healthy and affordable source of nourishment. And, he says, his grandchildren love playing with the hens.
"Poppy," to his grandchildren, Johnson said Tuesday that the youngsters "took great joy in lifting up the door and finding four or five eggs in there. It's an educational process for them."
"Hey! When's the last time you had a fresh egg?" Johnson then asked a member of the media Tuesday at City Hall.
"It's been a while," admitted his interviewer with a chuckle.
