Under a proposed new system, the total would be capped at six before a permit, costing $106, was required.
Many in the room disagreed with that detail, with first-term Cr Teddy Thompson kicking off proceedings with an earnest speech on his personal experience owning poultry.
“This is pretty dear to my heart. I’ve got 12 chickens,” Thompson said.
“Chickens live five to 10 years. After 18 weeks they start laying eggs. They lay the most in the first year, second year, third year. Then after three years they don’t lay many eggs.”
Cr Thompson said the number of eggs produced by a hen depended on a number of factors including age, breed, genetics and the time of year.
Hens could lay seven eggs in one week and none the next, he said.
“It’s pretty hard to tell the kids ‘Freckles is only producing one egg every two weeks now, she has to go’.”
Before reaching his conclusion — which was to ask why the number of poultry was being capped at six when the council had received zero complaints in relation to contained birds — Cr Thompson was interrupted by Cr Tony Robinson requesting a point of order.
The latter was promptly knocked off his perch.
“He doesn’t need to ask a question, we are debating,” Mayor Stoltz said, defending Cr Thompson.
“Just let him speak, bro,” deputy mayor Josh Wharehinga said.
Cr Thompson said eight complaints had been received in relation to nuisance poultry, with all concerning either noisy roosters or roaming birds.
Those issues were already contained in the bylaw and there was no driver to reduce the number people could own, he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Cr Colin Alder who said hens not only provided food but also controlled cockroaches and flies.
Cr Rob Telfer said bringing in a permit created extra work for an already-stretched council staff, while Cr Wharehinga said it created an obstacle for whānau who were trying to support themselves.
A counter-view was provided by Cr Debbie Gregory who gave a personal account of owning six hens which provided up to six eggs a day.
Cr Gregory said production hadn’t slowed over winter, but added owning birds didn’t always help with being self-sufficient because of the extra costs incurred in looking after them, such as providing good food.
“I had a look online this morning around several councils just to see where we sit with this. Most councils have a limit of six, which gives council officers a point (of reference) when there is a problem to work with,” she said.
“Twelve is a lot of chickens.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Rehette Stoltz had a bone to pick with her poultry-owning constituents.
“I just want to say, to the people that have chickens, I have not seen any eggs.”
Council moved to adopt the recommendations, but voted to change the maximum number of fowl from six to 12 before a permit was required.
The decision follows a Bylaw Submissions Panel hearing in April, which dealt with 37 submissions from the public.
The new bylaw does not apply to dogs, with a draft Dog Control Bylaw 2023 and draft Dog Control Policy also adopted at Thursday’s meeting.
