Cold Lake urban hen program goes into practice SHARE ON: A hen with her chicks. [Pixabay.] Cold Lake residents might be seeing some clucking new pets around, as the city opens up its urban hen raising program. Back in the spring, City Council had given the ok to allow residents to apply for a licence to install backyard coops and raise hens on private property. The allowance does come with some rules, which the City of Cold Lake set up after looking into the way it worked in other municipalities that allowed it. Anyone raising these birds has to Be at least 18 years old, successfully complete an accredited hen keeping training course and have a license from the city.