New member!

[AllisonFlood]

Hi everyone!
My name is Allison and I live in Lockport, IL with my husband and four kids. I have a small flock of 5 wonderful hens. We got the chickens after reading an article in a local newspaper stating that the county where we reside was now allowing people to keep chickens in their backyards. We were so excited and dove in. We have completely fallen in love with our girls and nothing has made us happier than watching the enjoyment and pride that our children take in caring for them. Unfortunately, we recently received notice that we are in violation of our city's code of ordinance which does not allow for the keeping of chickens on residential property. I have sprung into action and am arming myself to attempt to get the city council to make a change to the ordinance that would allow for small flocks of hens to be kept. I'm looking for advice from those who have fought the good fight with their cities and towns. Help me keep my chickens!!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/LockportUrbanChickenKeepers/
https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/allow-chickens-in-lockport

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC Checkout this forum on changing codes. We're so happy you joined us

 

[Kiki]

Welcome to Backyardchickens.com aka BYC!
We are glad you joined our flock.
I wish you the best of luck.
This video will help you learn how to navigate this site:

Please check out and enter this current contest:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...contest-09-11-2017-pic-by-summerb123.1197988/

 

[rjohns39]

Alison, You may also want to go to the Illinois thread not only to seek their signatures on petitions but to see who else has won this fight and how they did it. It's been my experience that cities and towns are not particularly interested in out of state/county opinions or signatures--but they get really interested in local. Also, do some investigative work to find out if one of your neighbors is your problem as its important to know who your enemy is and who you're fighting against. Best of luck to you

 

[RodNTN]

Hello there! And It's wonderful to have you here with us. Best wishes!

 

[rjohns39]

Alison, It would appear you're up against a whole lot of ignorance and in for a tough battle.

Here's the ordinance:

§ 90.03 CERTAIN ANIMALS PROHIBITED; EXCEPTIONS.
(A) Livestock and the like prohibited. No goat pen, chicken coop, runway, yard or other place for the keeping of any goat, chicken , pigeon, goose, turkey, mule, horse, donkey, sheep, bovine, swine, or other such animal or fowl of any kind shall be maintained within the city except as provided herein. No horse, mule, donkey, bovine, goat, sheep, or swine shall be raised or kept in the city. No predatory mammal or predatory bird of any species may be kept or raised within the city. No dog trained or used for dog fighting may be kept or raised within the city.

But here's a telling blog. http://www.topix.com/forum/city/loc...Q6HE/will-lockports-chicken-sh-ordinance-pass It's not pleasant reading and chocked full of ignorance.

Here's a blog from people fighting it in 2009 https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/chicago-chicken-enthusiasts/XwrQjPUIhvo

It looks like a lot of time has passed since 2009 and you may find more support today, it appears one of the more vocal people working to ban chickens is no longer a resident. I'd start by contacting the person in the google forum who was trying to kill the ordinance before enacted and see if you can't pull together her supporters and other new ones. Debunk the myths and point out that Chicago allows back yard chickens.

Hope this helps.

 

[drumstick diva]

I agree totally with everything written above. I always say to mention Chicago allows backyard chickens and Roosters. I never knew that when I lived in Chicago 48 years ago.
Of course then I thought only farmers had chickens.

 

[N F C]

Hi Allison, I hope you'll be able to keep your flock.

Best of luck to you and thanks for joining us!