Prince Edward County Council added overt penalties to the Backyard Hen By-Law on Tuesday after complaints were made recently about at-large chickens.

The penalties include initial fines of $100 for exceeding the allowable hen limit (with that number being six in settlement areas, and 10 in farm areas), and $300 for allowing hens to stray at-large.

As well, the by-law changes allow for the county to take reoffending individuals to court, as a last resort, where they could be subject to initial Provincial Offences Act fines as high as $25,000, upon conviction.

On that, Picton Coun. Kate MacNaughton voiced concern over subjecting individuals to that level of potential penalty.

Ameliasburgh Coun. Roy Pennell, however, thought that the maximum fines were a suitable deterrent.

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