Starting a movement in my town of Mokena, IL (Will County, IL) to legalize backyard chickens?

[mokenachickenman]

If you could keep their egg boxes inside like in a garage, that may help conceal them. Or if you are friendly with the neighbors and know they won't report you. But yea, the hens could get unwanted attention if they were outdoors during their laying.

Older hens are rather gentle and quiet. But if the goal is egg production, an indoor operation is quieter.

We do have a shed-like room attached to the back of our garage that they theoretically could survive in. We'd just have to build a door to get them in and out of the coop.

I'm really leaning towards doing it anyway despite the laws, we have family members with farm land in the event that we had to get rid of them. We live in such a rural area so I find it pretty crazy that just a few hens aren't allowed...

1 Timothy 9:
Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

 

[Molpet]

Are you in mokena village limits? They are allowed in will county with a bunch of regulations.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Your State thread (IL) is HERE.

I will, with respect, disagree entirely with Banana - who is in Peru, a country with a completely different legal system, a completely different view of property rights, and a completely different concept of social obligation than we do in the US. Moreover, IL is typically punitive in its legislation, and no small part of the State seems busy trying to plug budget holes with fines.

An illegal chicken operation, with hopes none of your neighbors report you, is (in my view) too much risk - and I'm not a particularly risk averse person.

Penalties and Enforcement

D. Violations And Fines: Violations of the provisions of this title or failure to comply with any of its requirements, including violations of conditions and safeguards established in connection with grants of variances, special uses, or planned developments, shall constitute a common nuisance. Any person convicted of violating this title may be fined at least seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00). In addition, any person found in violation of this title shall be expected to pay all costs and expenses related to adjudicating the offense. Each day that a violation is permitted to exist after notification thereof shall constitute a separate offense. (Ord. 2000-O-005, 2-14-2000)

That's not "up to" $750, that's AT LEAST $750. PER DAY.

If your chickens are worth that to you, I suggest instead that you move someplace where they are more welcome.

 

[McChooky]

That's what we're thinking. We are planning on installing a privacy fence anyways so it'd be pretty easy to keep them concealed apart from their egg songs

Low profile run w/matching white washed fence and garden beds. (Green house on rt)

 

[McChooky]

A few pointers:
Build a coop that doesn't scream "Chicken Coop!" from afar. Some neighbors just aren't nice, sorry! Fortunately most complaints are caused from having too many roosters which we can prevent. Pick a breed that can be sexed upon hatching (90% accuracy) Raising "auto-sexed" chickens will help you identify the cockerels earlier so you can re-home them faster(or harvest them) Barred Rock's, Dominique's, Legbar's, Isbar's, Welbar, Rhodebar's, 55 Flowery Hens, Smaalands and Niederrheiner are a few auto-sexed breeds. If you breed them to solid color pure breed chickens you can sell sex linked chicks or harvest them as meat birds or just keep them as layers.

 

[Mike19425]

I tried to have 2 kitten for my grand daughters when they come to visit, I got a call from the village telling me I can’t have them and I should dispose of them, I tried to give them to farmers around Mokena but all refused them, then I had to travel 100 miles to a friend farmer in Indiana and gave it to him, but yes I would join anyone who wants to make it legal in Mokena

 

[SharonWFrankfortIL]

Hi there,

I'm wondering if anyone in Will County, IL would be interested in joining me and starting a petition / Facebook group to legalize backyard chickens in the area. I'm really surprised they're not allowed given Mokena, New Lenox & Manhattan all have some VERY rural areas where you still can't have birds!

For others, what are the chances of actual success with this? I would prefer to go through the legal process instead of having an underground stealth chicken coop but if it's going to be a legal grind that could take years I guess I'll just accept that I'll never have chickens in the next 5 or so years

Please contact me I currently have a lawyer for my FARM in Frankfort, IL. You can find me on Facebook photo is pink roses. Sharon Wallace

 

[cstans]

Located in Frankfort and interested

 

[matthennessy]

That's what we're thinking. We are planning on installing a privacy fence anyways so it'd be pretty easy to keep them concealed apart from their egg songs

hi! in a neighboring town from you where hens are legal with a permit (that has the most impossible, insane restrictions/guidelines) and lets just say no one knew we had 2 hens until they started laying and let out an egg song everyday! i try my best to go out with treats to quiet them down but other then that, they are completely silent and unnoticeable! im just nervous bc the egg song is LOUD like can be heard inside with windows closed.

 

[Momostallion]

I don't think they're allowed, even as "pets". It's very strict here unfortunately

I'm from mokena. Here's my number. Because I agree this tyrant government won't allow us to live like humans. 7089551956. -mo