Feathers Canada

Feathers Canada is a non-profit registered society interested in preserving smallhold poultry operations, the products they produce, and the cultural heritage they represent.

Our rights to raise poultry and access smallhold poultry products are steadily being eroded by our government and the regulators they empower. The smallholder represents more humane ways to raise poultry, healthier ways to raise poultry and offers healthier food options.

In Canada, Farm Animal Genetic Resources (FanGR) are being preserved on smallhold farms. Due to trans-national corporate pressures, these genetic reserves are quickly disappearing. Our long term food security is dependent on the survival of the smallhold farmer. Feathers Canada isn't just for us, it's for our children and grandchildren.

The problem lies in the fact that when new regulations are being dreamed up and implemented, smallholders are not represented while trans-national corporate interests are. I've been told firsthand from industry regulators that regulations sustainable for smallholder poultry will not occur without representation from the smallhold poultry community.

Unfortunately, the very limited representation smallholders have received has been extremely limited in scope and sometimes conflicted. For example, the conservation and exhibition communities are often divided in deciding what criteria deems a breed valuable and how a breed should be preserved. The researchers seem content to simply protect their personal research projects. Meanwhile, the average backyarder goes completely ignored while contributing the most to the smallholder economy. The average backyarder who simply wants to raise a few birds for eggs, meat, fancy, or pets.

Feathers Canada intends to combine the needs of all of these sectors of the smallhold poultry community and bring a unified perspective to the regulatory discussion table. To do so, we need the support of ALL Canadians with an interest in smallholder poultry.