Kitchener council considering amending backyard chicken bylaw to include ducks

A Kitchener resident is asking city council members to amend the backyard chicken bylaw to include ducks.

The purpose of raising backyard ducks would be the same as raising backyard chickens, and ducks may actually be a better option for many residents.

At a city council meeting, Kitchener Resident Laura McQuillen said female ducks can produce 210 to 280 eggs per year, making them better at laying eggs than chickens.

“They also produce a larger, richer egg which would be great for baking. They are also generally very quiet. The sound they make is similar to a squeaking hinge. They would be quieter than a dog.”

She also explained how ducks would be easier to keep than chickens.

“They have an extra layer of fat, a down layer and weather-proofing on their feathers that make them better able to withstand the hot summers and cold winters we have here in Canada. They don't migrate. I am thinking of getting Ancona ducks, which are considered to be a pet duck.”

McQuillen said she already has a suitable area ready to properly house the ducks.

“My property has already had an inspector come out and the enclosure and coop were approved by the bylaw officer and it was at that time that I was informed that the hens had to be chickens and could not be ducks.”

In response, city council members told her they would like to explore the possibility of adding ducks to the backyard hen bylaw.

They have asked for a report to be presented to council at a later date.