A proposal for the Village of

Glencoe

Sept. 20, 2012Kevin and Thea Harvey

Why Chickens?Why Chickens?

• Chickens close the loop for the home gardener, creating a micro ecosystem.

• Eggs are not transported long distances in refrigerated trucks.

• Backyard chickens are raised humanely.

Sustainable LivingSustainable Living

Free Range Eggs Provide Superior NutritionFree Range Eggs Provide Superior Nutrition

More and more people are getting into things like growing their own food, keeping chickens, and living sustainably.

Increasing Interest in Backyard ChickensIncreasing Interest in Backyard Chickens

Noise LevelNoise Level

Waste and Odor IssuesWaste and Odor Issues

*http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/divisions/dfbmd/diseases/salmonellosis/#prevent

Chickens and DiseaseChickens and Disease

Predators are already living in urban areas.

Open spaces (like golf courses) with rabbits, ducks and geese, attract predators.

Wild bird feeders, pet food, gardens, fish ponds, bird baths and trash waiting to be collected all attract predators.

PredatorsPredators

Pests and Pest ControlPests and Pest ControlChickens will seek out and eat just about anything that moves including ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, grasshoppers, stink bugs, slugs, and even mice and baby rats.

A Chicken Tractor

Coop AestheticsCoop AestheticsChicken coops need

not be ugly and are no more an eyesore than

any poorly designed and built structure.

Coop AestheticsCoop Aesthetics

Chickens and Property ValuesChickens and Property ValuesForbes: Top 10 housing markets that are appreciating in value* - allow backyard chickens?

Indianapolis, IN YES. No limits on amount and roosters are allowed.Springfield, MO YES. No limits on amount. Noise ordinance applies.Denver, CO YES. No limits on amount of hens. No roosters.Albuquerque, NM YES. Up to 15 chickens and one rooster. C. Springs, CO YES. Up to 10 chickens and no roosters.San Antonio, TX YES. Up to 3 chickens without a permitNashville, TN YES. But passed after Forbes article was published.Austin, TX YES. Up to 10 chickens allowedMcAllen, TX YES. Up to 6 per acreRaleigh, NC YES. No limits on amount.

*Forbes, Sept. 10, 2010: “America's Best Housing Markets For Investors.” http://www.forbes.com/2010/09/10/real-estate-investing-property-lifestyle-housing.html

NOTE: Of the 10 sickest housing markets (Forbes, August, 2011), only 3 allow backyard chickens.

93% of major US cities allow hens

Glenview NoKane County

YesLaSalle YesLincolnwood NoLombard NoMcHenry NoMcHenry (County) YesMount Prospect NoNaperville YesNiles NoNorthbrook Yes Northfield YesOak Brook Yes Oak Park Yes

Arlington Heights NoBatavia, IL YesBerwyn YesBridgeview YesBrookfield YesChicago YesCook Cty (unincorp.) YesDowners Grove YesElgin Yes Evanston YesFox Lake YesFranklin Park NoGalesburg YesGlen Ellyn No

Orland Park YesPalatine NoPeoria NoRockford - Winnebago YesSkokie NoSt. Charles YesWarrenville YesWest Dundee YesWestmont YesWheaton NoWilmette NoWinfield (unincorp) YesWoodstock Yes

Chickens in Illinois TownsChickens in Illinois Towns

Elements of a Chicken OrdinanceElements of a Chicken Ordinance• No roosters allowed• A limit on total number of chickens allowed per residence• A maximum # of chickens allowed without a permit or license • Coop recommendations* • Reference to existing nuisance, cleanliness, humane housing

and treatment laws that apply• No slaughtering

*e.g., height, size, required gauge of wire mesh, birds enclosed in pen overnight, fenced yard for daytime foraging, minimum distance from nearest neighboring residence.

Alternatives to a Chicken OrdinanceAlternatives to a Chicken Ordinance• Enact a pilot program, allowing

a limited number of families (perhaps five) to have backyard chickens for a trial period (two to three-years)

• Create a community coop, where multiple participants could become members and share in the cost, maintenance and benefits (Glencoe Community Garden?)