Learn everything you need to know about raising hens in Squamish, including bylaws, regulations, and best practices for a harmonious urban hen-keeping experience.
Focus keyphrase: Raising hens in Squamish
Embarking on the delightful journey of raising hens in Squamish? You’re in for a cluckin’ good time! Keeping hens can be a wonderful way to enjoy fresh eggs and engage in eco-friendly practices. But hold your horses (or hens!) – it’s important to understand Squamish’s local bylaws and regulations to ensure a safe and healthy environment for both your feathery friends and your community. In this article, we’re here to help you navigate the key aspects of Squamish bylaws related to keeping hens, and offer some guidance on how to stay compliant.
Key Definitions
- Coop: A cozy, covered structure to keep your hens safe and sound.
- Pen: A fully enclosed outdoor space for your hens to roam and explore.
- Hen: A domesticated female chicken that is at least four months old.
Control of Animals Generally
Squamish bylaws have some general animal control rules that apply to hens as well:
- Don’t let your hens run wild! Keep them under your watchful eye and control.
- If your hen leaves a “gift” on a highway, public place, or someone else’s land, it’s your responsibility to clean it up right away.
- If your hen falls ill with an infectious or contagious disease, keep her securely confined and under a vet’s care.
Keeping of Urban Hens
The bylaws give you the green light to keep up to five hens on your property, as long as you don’t ruffle any feathers in terms of neighborhood health, environmental, or nuisance issues. Universities, however, can keep more hens for educational purposes.
Requirements for Keeping Hens
To be a top-notch hen keeper in Squamish, follow these regulations:
- Live on the property where your hens reside.
- Stick to the limit of five hens per parcel of land, no matter the number of dwelling units.
- Roosters are a no-go.
- Tuck your hens in a secure coop from sunset until 7:00 a.m.
- Keep hens in a coop or pen at all other times.
- Your hens are outdoor pets – no residential dwelling units, balconies, or decks for them.
- Give each hen a roomy coop and pen with at least 0.37m2 in floor area and 0.92m in height.
- Provide each hen with her own nesting box and a perch at least 15 centimeters long.
- Hens in cages? Only when it’s time to hit the road.
- Make sure the coop and pen don’t exceed 10m2 floor area or 2m in height.
- Set up the coop and pen in a backyard with a continuous fence, in line with the Zoning Bylaw.
- Keep the coop and pen at least 3m away from windows and dwelling doors.
- Protect your hens from wildlife and rodents.
- Keep the coop and pen clean, well-maintained, and free of pesky vermin.
- Selling hen-related manure or meat? That’s a no-no.
- Store hen food securely and away from vermin and wildlife.
- Regularly clean up leftover food, debris, and manure from the coop and pen.
- Store manure in a fully enclosed structure, with no more than 0.085m3 (3 cubic feet) at a time.
- Keep manure out of the District’s sewage or storm drain system.
- Don’t slaughter or euthanize a hen on your property.
- When it’s time to say goodbye to a hen, dispose of her lawfully.
- Burying a hen on your property? That’s not allowed.
- Follow the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s recommended biosecurity procedures.
- Lastly, make sure to register your hens with the District of Squamish Animal Control.
Now that you’re well-versed in Squamish’s local bylaws and regulations for raising hens, you’re ready to embark on your urban hen-keeping adventure. By following these guidelines, you’ll contribute to a harmonious and sustainable community while enjoying the many benefits of raising hens. Happy hen-keeping!
Disclaimer: The "Squamish By-Laws Explained" blog post series is intended to provide an easy-to-understand interpretation of the bylaws in Squamish for the convenience of our community. Please note that these explanations are our take on the bylaws and are not legally binding. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are not responsible for any discrepancies or misinterpretations that may arise from these posts.
For the most accurate and up-to-date legal information, always refer to the official bylaws published on the District of Squamish website at https://squamish.ca/yourgovernment/bylaws/. It is the responsibility of the person using this information to ensure that it accurately reflects the current bylaw provisions.
