Why should you keep chickens?

Quality eggs,

         They amuse the children,

               Great pets!

                     Free and happy hens, 

                            Eating Local

                                         Food autonomy

Whether it is to improve your quality of life, have fun, keeping a few hens will provide you the same joy as keeping any pets. You will experience pleasure, give them names, care and observe them with delight. Hens are part of a movement for greater awareness of the environment. The rise of urban agriculture, green roofs and sustainability that incorporates multiple forms of food production in urban areas are all parts of a large sustainable project for the protection of all lives on this planet.

Chickens are perhaps the most abused animals on the planet. Every year billions upon billions of these intelligent, social birds are killed for food worldwide, and countless more are locked in tiny cages and are denied the freedom to express even their most simple needs.

Food independence ensures food security, better protection for the species, community reconciliation, and a better quality of life of urban residents. Foster an educational environment for schools, collect data on practice and share knowledge in collaboration with the actors from the municipal sector and Governments will be important over the next years.

The idea of having fresh eggs in my yard began towards the end of the 1990s. Largely inspired by Martha Stewart, I was thinking since 2005 to have chickens in my yard without knowing how to get myself in this adventure. 

Hence, I had no knowledge on the subject. With my house based in Terrebonne with a small vegetable garden in my backyard, I thought I could build or install a mini coop-but I couldn’t find any builders or providers around me. Over the years, I’ve been collecting articles and books on the subject. I started reading blogs with great interest.

Fate would bring me to one key person in Laval who has chickens in her yard. She gave me the courage to start my project. She has a large chicken coop that can accommodate nearly 15-20 hens. I am completely thrilled and delighted to see her yard and all the beautiful fresh eggs.

A few months later, I saw that my friend was not using a 4 x 4 enclosed mini coop in her yard.  I bought it. This was the start of my project. I decided I would build a large chicken run to protect my hens.

I needed a little help to convince me of my skills and abilities. I drew a plan, bought materials and I went to my favorite hardware store: Rona l’Esperance in Ste-Therese and requested Jean-Pierre, a member of the staff, to make a few wood cuts. He was so generous to help me with the angles of the roof. Many thanks to all the staff of Rona l’Esperance of Ste – Therese, from all departments, and especially to Mrs. Joanne Hogue for her valuable advice and services for more than 10 years. With them, I was able to build my beautiful chicken coop and I am very proud.

My good friend from Laval lent me 3 chickens of different breeds in order to get some experience the first year. Not only have I become an unconditional adept of keeping hens in my backyard, but I’m educated to the phenomenon and I’m proud to have been one of the few pilot projects for the city of Terrebonne since April 2014.  I did announce, explain and ask to legalize the practice and to create clear, realistic and applicable legislation.

Several cities are in talks with their citizens on this subject everywhere in North America. See tab / legalize chickens: http://www.poulesenville.com/#! blank/inneb

http://www.unleashed.org.au/animals/chickens.php

https://www.rspca.org.au/sites/default/files/2016-08%20The%20welfare%20of%20layer%20hens%20in%20cage%20and%20cage-free%20housing%20systems_0.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xmg3gJr-8FQ

http://www.nourrirnotremonde.org/ScriptorWeb/Scripto.asp?Resultat=252423

Why Choose Food Sovereignty?

• According to the FAO, world hunger has reached unprecedented levels, affecting nearly one billion people;
• In Canada, the percentage of households with employment income who are forced to rely on food aid went from 11.9% in 2002 to 14.5% in 2008. In the United States, 11% of households and 18% of children suffer from hunger, while US food production exceeds the country’s needs by 100%;
• Of the $3.5 Billion of annual retail food sales, 25% of revenues go to the ten largest food corporations. In Canada, five companies earn 52% of retail food sales; in Quebec, three companies earn 82%;
• In regions where the food supply is becoming increasingly Westernized (over processing, sugar, salt, fat, etc.), obesity is rampant. Of the 1.2 billion people who are overweight, 300 million are clinically obese;
• According to the World Watch Institute, food travels on average 2,600 km from the place where it is grown or raised and where it is consumed;
• According to the FAO, 75 % of the world’s food species have disappeared over the past century, replaced by more productive species;
• Whereas the WTO Agriculture Agreement applies to all food products in each of the153 signatory countries, it is estimated that 15% of these products are sold outside their country or region of origin. Yet, the prices farmers receive for these commodities are getting closer and closer to global prices;
• According to Statistics Canada, this country loses 67 farms each week (2001–2006 Census).

The Coalition identifies several obstacles to making responsible consumer choices, challenges that warrant collective choices and the political freedom to make these choices.

What You Can Do?

Although the concept of food sovereignty primarily calls for collective action, each individual can contribute:

• Make responsible food choices, by buying local products, for instance;
• Advise members of your community (childcare centres, schools, markets, municipalities, etc.) to adopt responsible policies supporting local producers;
• Urge your federal and provincial elected representatives to encourage and even to require individual and institutional food sovereignty alternatives through support or regulation.

Source:

GUI_agriculture_urbaine (1).pdf  Guide (French)

http://www.laterre.ca/actualites/elevages/10-000-poules-elevees-cerisiers.php