Urban hen house project clucking along in Corner Brook

It's a bit of rural life meeting urban life in Corner Brook — as one city resident continues to raise chickens in his backyard.

I have never heard any negative response, any negatives, like a complaint. It's always been positive.- Jeff Siddall, on raising hens in his Corner Brook yard

Municipal officials are trying to figure out if this kind of a lifestyle would work within city limits.

Jeff Siddall currently has four hens in his yard, which he says produce about two dozen eggs a week.

Siddall looks at it as a way of becoming more self-sustainable, and told CBC News it also helps reduce his environmental footprint.

"We keep them for the eggs. We get an egg a day from every bird ... that's the motivation, to keep the eggs," said Siddall.

"People who know me aren't surprised, but people that I just meet, or that don't know me, are a little bit surprised that people are keeping hens in their backyards in Corner Brook."

Community supportive

Siddall has been raising hens for two years, and he doesn't believe his neighbours are offended. 

"I have never heard any negative response, any negatives, like a complaint. It's always been positive," said Siddall.

Once the trial period is over, and if Corner Brook city council gives its approval, the city will develop rules and regulations for the raising of backyard hens.

Council had originally approved the trial project in April 2013.