Whether Bolingbrook residents should be allowed to raise chickens in coops in their backyards has "never come up," according to Bolingbrook Village Attorney James Boan.
However, Downers Grove, Naperville, Lombard, Westmont and St. Charles all allow residents to have backyard chicken coops. Plainfield most recently gave the go-ahead for backyard chickens in October.
Boan said he's seen the trend in nearby communities, but "there's been no request by anybody to raise a chicken in their backyard" in Bolingbrook.
Currently, raising chicken and chicken coops are prohibited in Bolingbrook's municipal code, along with goat pens and the raising of turkeys, donkeys, sheep and other animals.
As in Plainfield and other communities, the municipal code would need to be revised to allow backyard chicken coops. In Plainfield, roosters are still prohibited and residents must follow certain requirements in building their shelters.
Should Bolingbrook residents be allowed to have backyard chicken coops? Tell us in the comments.
Here's what Bolingbrook Facebook readers had to say:
Courtney O.: Not a bad idea...cost effective and great health initiatives.
Dawn L.: Don't even get me started. My back neighbor had some. What a nightmare for us.
Beth G.: Are you serious! With all the stink and diseases. That is absolutely crazy!! Go live in the country if you want chickens. Definitely not here.
Ellen K.: Absolutely! If you look at the type of requirements Plainfield put in place, they are doing their part to reduce problems. Properly cared for, chickens have no more risk of disease than any other household pets, plus they can provide nutrition with their eggs. If you're concerned, please do some research on suburban chicken coops. There are a lot of successful urban coops out there, and Bolingbrook would be wise to look into giving residents the option.
Bethany S.: A well tended coop does not stink at all. Backyard birds are great producers of healthy eggs, and can be wonderful education for all of us. We should not have to live in the country to be able to provide our own, healthy food.
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There are plenty of ways to keep up on Bolingbrook news:
As far as vegetable gardening, I am all for it. The more the better. Turf grass is a waste of money and valuable resources, especially with our obscene water rates. We all could learn how to be a little more self-sustaining.
I remember when Bolingbrook was mainly pumpkin fields and horses were kept on Boughton Road so small urban and suburban farming has always been here whether "Moved here" likes it or not.
A more important issue to vote on is allowing residents to have pitbulls. Many of these dogs are bred for fighting exclusively, they are a danger to our community and should not be allowed. I heard far too many stories of these dogs attacking Bolingbrook residents.
http://blog.dogsbite.org/2012/01/30-year-summary-dog-attack-deaths-and.html http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/14519676-418/police-south-side-man-killed-in-pitbull-attack.html http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/14519676-418/police-south-side-man-killed-in-pitbull-attack.html http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-09-13/news/chi-berwyn-cop-injured-after-2-pitbulls-shot-20120913_1_pit-bull-small-dog-second-dog http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-09-13/news/chi-berwyn-cop-injured-after-2-pitbulls-shot-20120913_1_pit-bull-small-dog-second-dog http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8508858 http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57351002/chicago-jogger-critically-hurt-in-pit-bull-attack/ http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57526976/pit-bull-mauls-newborn-to-death-in-detroit/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtUGGeAYNok
As for the pitbull comments...ANY dog can become vicious if it's owner is a butthole! First it was Dobermans then rottweilers, now pittbulls, who knows what the next "bad" breed will be. As soon as it becomes cool to have a mean guard dog in the movies or videos or with celebrities people jump on the ban wagon and ruin a breed's reputation. Yes, bigger dogs are more dangerous but not because of their temperament, but because if and when they do bite they have bigger jaws, teeth and muscle which causes more damage! The dogs are not the problem, it's the owners!
It's and interesting read..