In June 2010, Vancouver City Council voted to let residents keep up to four registered female chickens in their backyards. Chickens are relatively "cheep" to buy (about $8 per hen) and keep. The City of Vancouver offers procedures and guidelines for taking care of your backyard birds (visit www. vancouver.ca/commsvcs/licandinsp/animalcontrol/chicken). Treat 'em right, and your hends will be happy and healthy, not to mention provide you with delicious, organic eggs for up to 14 years.
Of course, part of responsible chicken care is appropriate shelter. Duncan Martin is a local entrepreneur who builds backyard coops that comply with city guidelines. He told me that, "In designing these coops, I took our rainy climate into account, as well as potential predators in the city like coyotes, raccoons and, sometimes, house cats."
Martin's "Vancooper" model is a smart fit for up to three hens. It includes a cozy cedar coop, protective pen and egg door for easy access to the laying box. Like all his coops, it's easy to assemble and disassemble (all you need are some bolts), and you can take it with you if you ever move. To order your own Vancooper, visit www.dailyeggs.com and "cluck" on Contact (sorry, couldn't resist ... ). read more