by Angie Sullivan

Some things in life are black and white. A Plymouth Rock hen, for example. But not so for the community of Howick, struggling with the nuance of whether or not to allow backyard chickens.

On one hand, town residents feel there are many great reasons to own laying hens, but for local poultry farmers and for public health, there are also some serious concerns.

In Howick Township, a rural community in Huron County known for its rich agricultural roots, backyard hens are currently prevented through by-law, but some residents are trying to change that.

The current by-law in Howick treats a small backyard coop the same as a commercial livestock operation, and prohibits all poultry in settlement areas including Belmore, Fordwich, Gorrie, Lakelet, and Wroxeter.

“I want backyard chickens to complete my urban homestead and teach my children about agriculture,” says Jessi Koehler, a Wroxeter homeowner who is leading a fight against the by-law. Growing up, she says she developed a fondness for chickens and believe they help kids learn empathy, responsibility, and food origins.

Bryan Levesque, another Wroxeter resident, would also like to add some chickens to his backyard. He moved to Wroxeter in 2021 from a small apartment in Kitchener-Waterloo and had been excited to start “country living.” They had talked about saving money on groceries by having backyard chickens. It was something they could have done in the city if they had a yard, but they soon found out the by-laws in Howick Township did not allow it. 

“It's quite disheartening having friends in the city who are allowed to raise their own chickens, when we are not allowed here,” adds Levesque. 

In May, Koehler submitted a presentation to the Howick Township Council requesting a by-law amendment to permit backyard chickens within village limits. Township staff underwent a thorough stakeholder engagement process, even creating a draft by-law for discussion. The matter was brought to Council on June 24, 2025. 

Koehler's proposal centered on the benefits of allowing backyard chickens within village limits. She argued that backyard hens would provide residents with a sustainable food source and significant cost savings as grocery prices continue to rise, while offering valuable educational opportunities for children to learn responsibility, animal care, and agricultural literacy.

The report emphasized the environmental advantages, noting that chickens naturally reduce household waste by consuming kitchen scraps and produce organic fertilizer for gardens. Backyard chickens foster community engagement, as neighbors share knowledge, resources, and experiences that strengthen neighbourhood bonds.

To support her case, Koehler pointed to successful backyard chicken programs in larger Ontario municipalities including Kitchener, Kingston, Guelph, and Brampton, demonstrating that such initiatives work effectively with proper guidelines and oversight. 

Township staff did a public survey and had 138 people respond in regions including Fordwich, Gorrie, and Wroxeter. A majority of 67 per cent supported allowing backyard chickens. Homeowners cited the pros of having fresh eggs, education, and seeing chickens as pets, but they also had concerns about issues like smells, predators, health factors, noise and property value.
But the agricultural industry expressed serious concerns with backyard chickens. Their letters are available on the township’s website as part of the Council meeting package from June 24, 2025 under the section MLE-2025-03.

The Huron Federation of Agriculture’s President Rob VandenHengel submitted a letter which cited concerns for animal and human health, biosecurity and manure and deadstock management. Similarly, the Egg Farmers of Ontario raised issues of the importance of proper animal care, balanced nutrition, vaccination, and proper housing for chickens, as well as protection from predators. 

Commercial poultry operations have undergone decades of improvements in biosecurity protocol for public and animal health, and it would seem that the general public doesn’t fully understand how much is on the line.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture’s fact sheet on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza was also considered by Council. In the last year, according to the government of Ontario’s website, the Avian Influenza (H5N1) virus has infected 12 poultry operations in the province and led to the extermination of hundreds of thousands of chickens. 

In the U.S., the virus has spread to cattle, though there have been no confirmed cases in Ontario to date. The virus can also spread to humans, and while this is rare, the Poultry Industry Council’s website notes that 21 people contracted the virus between 2020 and 2023, with eight fatalities.  
Dr. Miriam Klassen, Medical Officer of Health for Huron Perth Public Health also wrote a letter for Council’s consideration that outlined both the benefits and the risks of backyard poultry, citing local instances of Salmonella and Campylobacter from consumption of undercooked eggs and chicken. The letter notes that people, especially children, can get sick from handling chickens. The letter also noted that chickens could attract more predators, like coyotes, skunks and the like, into the settlement area. She concluded that people wanting backyard poultry should have robust protocols for biosecurity in their homes and communities.

While Koelher’s report cited Kitchener, Guelph and other municipalities that allow backyard poultry, they are a minority. Of the 444 municipalities in Ontario, only six per cent allow backyard hens. The closest in size and location is the Town of Minto. 
Koehler believed that a proper by-law could address many of the poultry industry’s concerns. Her report addressed regulations on coop construction and maintenance, and noted that noise complaints could be prevented by limiting flock sizes and prohibiting roosters. Given Howick Township's location amid some of Ontario's most fertile farmland and its agricultural heritage, Koehler argued that allowing backyard chickens was a logical extension of the community's farming identity.

A thorough report was considered by Howick’s Council in June 2025. 

“The report also included a draft framework for a program should Council decide to proceed,” said Josh Kestner, the Manager of Development & Protective Services, in an interview with The Rural Voice.  This framework included a draft by-law, a draft municipal law enforcement policy, and the corresponding application forms, Kestner added. 

“Council reviewed the report, and decided that it was best not to implement a backyard chicken program at this time,” said Kestner.  Along with the public health and nuisance concerns, they also noted the lack of capacity of current municipal law enforcement staff to administer an additional program, as well as the added cost to implement and enforce the program compared to permit revenue. 

But, Jessi Koehler isn’t giving up.

“After the council rejected my initial business case, I identified bias in their research due to a lack of balanced perspectives,” she said in an interview with The Rural Voice. “I've submitted a rebuttal for August 12, 2025 council meeting.”  

There are arguments on both sides, and it doesn’t look like there will be a firm answer anytime soon. Another consideration would be how to manage hobby or small flock chickens in rural areas or farms. There are quota exemption for up to 100 laying hens and Ontario’s Poultry Industry Council created resources for small flock producers at smallflockontario.ca. These resources may be helpful to those with backyard chickens.  ◊