Cochrane council voted against backyard chickens at Monday (February 27) evening's council meeting.

There were a number of chicken supporters in council chamber; and while the concept was supported, the location was not.

Council voted the pilot program of allowing backyard chickens in Cochrane unanimously down (missing Councillor Levisky) citing reasons of wildlife concerns and negative feedback from surrounding communities.

Jennifer Walden, Founder of CLUCK Cochrane was not only disappointed but says some of the communities Mayor Ivan Brooker mentioned had positive outcomes.

"Jenny from Okotoks was there who did the project in Okotoks and what our mayor stated that his feedback was from Okotoks.... they have never heard that from their mayor, they have never heard anything but positive feedback. So it is really disappointing to them to hear that other communities, their projects are being disallowed on the basis of something that a mayor has stated."

Walden says Okotoks council even went from a 4-3 vote in the beginning to an unanimous vote at the end in favour of keeping chickens, and if there were qualms about the program why not bring them up.

As far as wildlife concerns, Walden adds, Black Diamond and Turner Valley border on Kananaskis and they have not had any issues with increased bear or cougar attacks, so why would Cochrane?!

"Yes there are already (wild) animals around, I don't know if chickens are going to make it any worse there are a lot of cats in my neighbourhood and I am sure them running off into the hill side and running back to the houses isn't conducive to keeping predators out in the wildlife corridors either."

Walden says this is not the end of CLUCK Cochrane though or the push to allow backyard chickens, even if they have to wait until after the municipal election to hatch a new proposal.

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