Urban Hen Debate Ruffles Feathers at City Hall

Kristen Mann - Urban Hen CLUCK!

At Tuesday’s council meeting, Medicine Hat resident Kristen Mann presented on behalf of CLUCK, a local advocacy group pushing for urban hen ownership within city limits. The proposal is simple but controversial: amend the city’s Land Use Bylaw to replace the word “chickens” with “roosters” in the definition of livestock. That change, Mann argued, would effectively allow hens to be kept as pets under existing bylaws while prohibiting noisy roosters.

Supporters say backyard hens would boost food security, reduce food waste, and provide educational opportunities for children without adding taxpayer costs. But the idea sparked strong opposition from some members of council.

Councillor Casi Hider voiced her concerns in plain terms:

“There is a smell… there is a sound… I really don’t want my neighbours to have chickens. If you want this type of thing in your life, you should probably live outside of city limits.”

Mayor Linnsie Clark, while acknowledging the freedom argument, also questioned whether the community is ready to balance liberty with potential nuisances.

Administration told council it would take four to six weeks to draft possible bylaw amendments, meaning the earliest council could debate the proposal would be late November. That timeline pushes the decision into the hands of a future council, as Medicine Hat voters head to the polls this fall.

For now, the issue remains up in the air — and likely to keep stirring debate between advocates of property rights, urban sustainability, and neighbourhood peace.