Calls to Ottawa bylaw for loose chickens more than double from pre-pandemic levels
There have been a lot more calls for loose chickens in Ottawa this year compared to pre-pandemic times, despite the fact that livestock is not permitted in most parts of the city.
Ottawa Bylaw and Regulatory Services (BLRS) tweeted Monday morning that it has seen an increase in calls for "chickens running at large" in urban and suburban parts of the city this year.
Ottawa Bylaw told CTV News Ottawa in an email that officers have responded to 93 chicken-related calls in 2021, up from 73 in 2020 and 39 in 2019.
Bylaw officials are warning people about the risks of owning chickens over and above the fact that it's prohibited.
Among the risks is the possibility of attracting predators, such as coyotes, to the neighbourhood or pests, like rats. People might accidentally get roosters when buying chicks, which could lead to noise complaints (roosters are prohibited everywhere in Ottawa, even in places zoned for hens), and there are also risks associated with fires caused by bedding materials and heat lamps or even zoonotic diseases being passed from the birds to people.
Bylaw also says there are costs to taxpayers associated with rescuing loose chickens and sheltering abandoned ones.
More than a third of all chicken calls in 2021 came from the rural wards of Osgoode and West Carleton-March, but some urban and suburban wards made the list. Nine calls came from College ward. There were three calls in Capital ward and five in River ward so far this year, as well as two in Barrhaven. In all, 19 of Ottawa's 23 wards had at least one chicken-related incident in 2021. Bylaw has not responded to any chicken calls in Orléans, Somerset, Kitchissippi, or Alta Vista wards so far this year.
"Currently, the Animal Care and Control By-law prohibits the keeping of livestock, including chickens, in areas not zoned for that purpose," said BLRS director Roger Chapman. "An amendment to the Zoning By-law has however been enacted to permit the keeping of ten (10) hens – no roosters – on lots that are a minimum of 0.8 ha (2 acres) in Rural Residential zones. Even in the rural areas, controls on lot size and chicken numbers are deemed necessary."
CHICKENS BY THE NUMBERS
Calls to Ottawa Bylaw for chickens
- 2018: 46
- 2019: 39
- 2020: 73
- 2021: 93
A chicken is shown feeding in this 2004 file photo. (Richard Lam / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Wards with the most chicken calls in 2021
- Ward 20 (Osgoode): 18
- Ward 5 (West Carleton-March): 14
- Ward 8 (College): 9
- Ward 21 (Rideau-Goulbourn): 7
- Ward 10 (Gloucester-Southgate): 6
- Ward 19 (Cumberland): 6
- Ward 6 (Stittsville): 5
- Ward 16 (River): 5
- Ward 17 (Capital): 3
- Ward 22 (Gloucester-South Nepean): 3
- Ward 13 (Rideau-Rockcliffe): 2
- Ward 2 (Innes): 2
- Ward 12 (Rideau-Vanier): 2
- Ward 11 (Beacon Hill-Cyrville): 2
- Ward 7 (Bay): 2
- Ward 3 (Barrhaven): 2
- Ward 4 (Kanata North): 2
- Ward 23 (Kanata South): 2
- Ward 9 (Knoxdale-Merivale): 1
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.