~li~ Reprints
Proponents of pet chicken ownership in Northbrook scored a victory Tuesday when the Village Board voted 4-2 to submit the issue for further review by the Communications and Legislation Committee.
Northbrook residents made their case to the board at its regular meeting that chickens should be considered domesticated pets, deserving the same treatment and respect as cats and dogs. They said said hens are relatively quiet animals that produce healthy, locally grown eggs.
Current chicken ownership rights are largely restricted under Section 5-10 of the current Village Code, which limits the number of chickens, roosters, ducks, swans or geese that a resident is allowed to own to three. A minimum of two acres of property is also required to keep the animals, and any shelter for the animals is required to be at least 150 feet away from any public property or residential property line.
Those chicken-ownership regulations are too stringent for some residents, including Christine Buti, who first brought up the issue during the Nov. 8 Board of Trustees meeting. Buti, who said she wants to be allowed to raise chickens on her property for homegrown eggs ” which she says are healthier than store-bought ” argued that raising chickens has little or no adverse effects on a community.
“I want to keep chickens on my property, and my husband suggested I do it the legal way, which is why I went to the board,” Buti said. “Noise seems to be a concern, but as long as you keep it to hens only (and not roosters) they make quiet clucking sounds, and it’s not an issue.”
Northbrook resident Noreen Girard said there are more chickens being raised (mostly unlawfully) in the community than many would think. Girard keeps three chickens at her home in Northbrook, and has more than 100 chickens at her friend’s farm in Richmond, a far northwest suburb. She said the eggs are given to local food pantries.
“There are a lot of people in Northbrook who have them and the neighbors don’t even know about it,” Girard said. “Chickens are part of our family ” I have pictures of my children from as young as 1 or 2 years old sleeping in the front room sometimes with a chicken on them. I also have a picture of my
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