Residents in the Municipality of West Elgin who wish to keep backyard hens must follow the requirements of By-law 2026-01. It is important that applicants review the By-law and understand the requirements.
- Reducing Health Risks Associated with Backyard Chickens
- Raise a Healthy Small Flock Poultry
- OMAFRA Rodent Control in Livestock and Poultry Facilities
| Hen Regulations |
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| Property Regulations |
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A person is not eligible for a Backyard Hen licence of such licence unless:
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| Coop Regulations |
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Within any Residential First Density (R1) or Rural Residential (RR) Zone, as defined by the Municipalities Zoning By-Law, no backyard coop (including manure storage area) or outdoor run, shall be located within:
A maximum of one (1) backyard hen coop and one (1) outdoor run shall be permitted per property. A backyard hen coop shall be provided that has:
The backyard hen coop and manure storage area, exclusive of the outdoor enclosure, shall not cumulatively exceed an area of 10 m2.
All backyard hen coops shall be a fully enclosed weatherproof structure or enclosure with ventilation and a heat source, built to prevent any rodent(s) from harbouring underneath or within its walls and to prevent entrance by any other animal. The interior shall include:
The backyard hen coop shall have a heat source that is a Canadian Standards Association (CSA) rated product and meets the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) standards upon installation. It is the owner's responsibility to follow the manufacturer's instructions for the heat source to ensure proper use.
All backyard hen coops must be kept in a clean and sanitary condition at all times, free of vermin, obnoxious smells and substances and in good repair.
All backyard hen coops and outdoor runs shall be secured against the entry of predators.
Backyard hens must be provided with food and clean water at all times, shelter, light and ventilation to assist in keeping the hens in good health. Food and water shall be kept in solid, rodent proof and weather proof containers. Uneaten food shall be removed in a timely manner.
All stored manure shall be covered by a fully enclosed container. No more than three (2) cubic feet of manure shall be stored. All other manure not used for composting or fertilizing shall be removed daily from the hen coop and outdoor run.
All backyard hens must be kept securely in a coop or outdoor run at all times. Backyard hens are not permitted to run at large.
The backyard hen coop must be locked from sunset to sunrise. |
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