Illinois...

[Boymommabear]

I looked up the county and I'm not sure exactly if this is right but it said the minimum lot size is 10,000 sq ft

 

[Faraday40]

Hey everyone. I am new here. First time posting in a forum. We are moving to the great lakes area, we aren't exactly sure where yet since we haven't bought a house. But I've been having trouble looking up what towns allow chickens and the laws there. Can I get some help? We are looking to buy in the Gurnee, Round lake, Antioch, Lindenhurst area.

It's a nice area up there & I enjoy driving past all the horse farms. Usually the unincorporated areas where people own a couple acres, tend to OK. Of course definitely look up any codes for a specific area once you have narrowed it down. In our county it varies by town and sometimes even by subdivision. My dad lives in unincorporated Naperville and cannot have chickens because he only has 0.8 acre. (The county rules state 1 acre min for small livestock, and only 2 chickens per acre) However, anyone in town (two blocks north or 4 blocks south) can own hens on ANY SIZE lot. Yes, people who own yards smaller than my dad's patio, may have chickens.

Some towns are very pro poultry, others have restrictions, and some are down-right anti-chicken. Most important is the relationship with your surrounding neighbors. If they are on-board with the idea, you've got it made. Best thing is to make sure they're not opposed before you invest in a coop.

 

[Boymommabear]

So do I look up the codes for the county or for the town?

 

[Justso]

I looked up the county and I'm not sure exactly if this is right but it said the minimum lot size is 10,000 sq ft

Yes, I looked it up too. Lake County has very well published rules as far as owning chickens. 10000 square feet will allow six hens. That is about a quarter acre.

 

[Molpet]

both
I live in will county which allows chickens, in a township. If I lived in either of the closest towns I could not have any chickens.

So do I look up the codes for the county or for the town?

 

[Justso]

So do I look up the codes for the county or for the town?

Unfortunately you'll need to do both. Please note in Illinois we have Incorporated and unincorporated areas. Your address could say Lindenhurst, but you're not actually a part of the town. You're Unincorporated in this case. Google littlelakecounty.com and chicken, they have an allowance list on their site.

 

[Faraday40]

Here are the remaining 2 week old chicks. I ended up getting a decent amount of laced orps, 3 lavs, & one Isabel orp.

I'm always amazed (happy & relieved) when things work out. I have a small test hatch due this weekend & all the above chicks are still occupying the brooder. I was so worried about them not selling as well as what to do with the new hatchlings. Then in one phone call: Done.

A woman, whom we emailed back & forth, offered to buy all our remaining orp chicks. She'll pick them up tomorrow, the big brooder will be empty, and more eggs start hatching on Sat. It's a big win/win because she'll get a bargain & I'll know that they're going to a nice farm. Then of course more people called out of no where and for those, I'll have some days olds.

DD is loving her little silkies & bantams (Those we're keeping until we can at least guess the genders.)

....but I remember:


Because of their small size, I think we may move them to the big brooder when the next chicks begin hatching. I love watching DD play with her chicks, but I also like having a clean house (without chick dust in the dining room ).

 

[Molpet]

http://www.littlelakecounty.com/backyard-chickens-lake-county/

 

[cavemanrich]

....but I remember:

It has to be a definite hen!!!

 

[Faraday40]

The current hatch is going well. pics later.

The brooder got emptied (last chicks were sold) & cleaned out yesterday at noon. I slid a couple chicks under Cookie (our super broody). By 3pm I moved her & the chicks out of the coop nest box and into the big brooder. I continued to slip more chicks under her as they hatched & fluffed up. By 10pm she had a doz hidden under her fluff and was happily clucking to them. Two more hatched overnight & another pip this morning. They'll be added later today.

Meanwhile someone's coming today to pick out 4 chicks. She missed out on the last batch, so I'm letting her pick 1st today. So far lavs & blk/lav splits. Two of the 14 "might" be incomplete gold laced, but I won't know until a couple feathers come in.

I love it when things work out & I can share my love of orps with others.