While Medicine Hat was too chicken, Brooks council approves permanent hen-keeping program

By Medicine Hat News on June 25, 2025.

@MedicineHatNews

The City of Brooks made an urban hen-keeping pilot project permanent earlier this month.

A unanimous council vote approved the inclusion of pilot project rules into the city’s animal control bylaw with a cap of six hens per licensed address.

The city had operated a pilot project in 2023 and 2024, in which seven properties were issued licences and no complaints were registered.

Administrative manager Amy Rommens says several more addresses were awaiting on approval of the permanent bylaw before applying.

Coun. Ray Juska told council that “a lot of time, some may say an inordinate amount of time” had been spent discussing the issue and potential restrictions.

“There are mechanisms in place to deal with problems that might arise,” said Juska, “I think we should put this one to bed.”

Rommens told council that no complaints had been received from neighbours of the seven pilot addresses over two previous years.

Later in the meeting, council also separately approved a request for variance to keep 20 hens in a fenced area at a semi-rural property on 12th Street W., about 60 metres from the next closest residence in a subdivision.

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