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Red Deer County allows more urban hens

Five urban hen permits now allowed in hamlets, up from two
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Red Deer County to allow more urban hen permits in hamlets. Black Press file photo

Red Deer County’s urban hen experiment has been a success.

The county tweaked its animal control bylaw in May 2018 to include urban hen regulations.

Those living on a property 1.99 acres or less are allowed six hens. Those living on properties of two to three acres will be allowed up to 20, an increase from the 12 originally proposed.

On properties of three to 10 acres, up to 40 hens will be allowed.

However, only two urban hen permits were allowed in each hamlet, with the exception of Springbrook, where 10 permits are permitted.

The prospect of raising hens has proven popular and the county has already built up a waiting list for permits.

Red Deer County Patrol has been monitoring urban hens, and so far, there have not been any problems.

That prompted county administration to propose that five urban licences be allowed in each hamlet. The county manager also has the power to approve additional permits at his discretion.

Gasoline Alley, which was not made a hamlet until after the animal control bylaw was passed, has now been added to the list of hamlets eligible for urban hens.



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