Montreal

Backyard chickens coming to Drummondville

People in Drummondville will soon be allowed to raise their own flock. The city authorized backyard chickens at Monday night's council meeting.

City joins several others in allowing residents to keep birds close to home

People in Drummondville will be allowed to have backyard chickens as of April 17, 2016. (Rogelio V. Solis/The Associated Press)

People in Drummondville will soon be allowed to raise their own flock. The city authorized backyard chickens at Monday night's council meeting. 

Residents still have to respect certain conditions and obtain a permit from the city. 

In a released published after Monday's council meeting, the town explained that it is in favour of urban chickens because they make practically no noise, they take up little space and they produce eggs of a "superior quality."

A number of municipalities in Quebec and the rest of Canada now allow backyard chickens.

Drummondville now joins Sorel-Tracy, Chambly and Carignan as places where the practice is allowed.

Last year, the Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough of Montreal allowed chickens in community gardens — under strict rules.

Residents in Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Surrey, Gatineau, Moncton and Brampton can also keep chickens in their backyard.

Victoriaville has also announced recently that it will have a project on backyard chickens.

It is not allowed, however, in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Halifax, Winnipeg, Regina and Saskatoon.