Change Ordinance in Chicago Heights, IL

[AdaliaStark]

Check out the article at the link for an alternative to a cupola roof. This one is very efficient and if I remember the author is in the mountains of North Carolina, so similar weather to what you see I'm thinking.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hot-climate-chicken-housing-and-care.77263/

Okay, I will check that out! Thank you so much!

 

[AdaliaStark]

I've been doing some looking at chicken breeds, while I wait to hear back from my city clerk. Gives me a break from looking at coop plans that might end up not working out once I've heard back.

I've seen that Leghorns can be pretty high strung and thus prone to cannibalism, which is making me learn towards not getting them or just getting 1 at most, probably once I decide if I need a 4th-6th chicken or not. I'm mostly looking for friendly, docile breeds that are cold hardy, don't mind confinement to a run(got stray cats, raccoons, opossums in my area) and really good egg layers.

By reading the articles on breeds and doing basic research online, it seems that Speckled Sussex, Dominique, Blue Plymouth Rock and Blue Copper Marans are breeds that meet what I'm looking for. I've also seen what people have to say about the Swedish Flower Chicken and Sex Links and it seems like two more that meet what I'm looking for.

I would like advice on these breeds that I'm looking at plus any others that could be recommended for me to research!

 

[AdaliaStark]

Okay so my cousin, who is gonna help me with building the coop and run had some questions about the ordinance also which led to him calling the city clerk for clarification and answers.

He told me that I'm the first person to ever ask about things or pursue chicken keeping in the city. They said I can do a chicken tractor along with the coop+run for extra square footage. I can raise the 4x6 coop up 1ft off the ground for a total of 7ft, but this honestly makes it seem like they don't even know their own ordinance??? As the ordinance requires the coop to be raised 1ft off the ground by default plus adding a cupola would make that coop 8ft in height.

My cousin said that it seems like I'm blazing the trail here, and that I have a little wiggle room so long as I meet the 3ft from property line and 30ft from the residence requirements. So I guess this means that depending on what I do, I could be changing and/or clarifying the ordinance further for anyone else who wants to also have chickens in my city.

I will update further once my cousin has had a chance to get back to me on some of the stuff I said when I saw what he was told by the city clerk.