Why did the chicken cross the road? Maybe it wanted to take part in Deep River’s great backyard chicken debate.

The issue of allowing town residents to keep up up to four chickens in residential areas will be back on the table for town council tonight, with at least five letters and a report from town staff on the agenda.

Council is considering a proposal to allow backyard chicken coops after a comprehensive presentation from residents Marc Pinault and Jessie Morrison earlier this month.

The local couple were asking council to implement a three-year pilot project, allowing people to have up to four backyard hens in residential zones.

In a report to council, chief building official and bylaw enforcement officer Robert Labre is recommending that the town conduct an “electronic survey” to determine how much support there would be for a three-year pilot project.

“It is believed that to permit hens in smaller residential zones (R2 & R3) is likely to create a significant number of complaints from neighbours due to attraction of nuisance animals, smell and noise,” Labre’s report says.

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