Red Deer will allow chickens to roost in backyards for at least another year.
By a vote of 7-1 today, Red Deer city council opened city backyards to chicken coops in a formal pilot project that runs until March 31, 2014.
Under the pilot, chicken owners must register chickens within four months.
Councillors said they have not heard from the community yet so they hope to hear more before considering a formal bylaw following the pilot.
No more than six chickens and no roosters will be permitted in backyards.
Coun. Chris Stephan was opposed. Coun. Tara Veer was absent.