Jeff Spitz, film professor at Columbia College, lives in Northbrook, IL, and his newest project, Food Patriots, is a 90-minute documentary on his family’s experience with chickens. The film will be aired on PBS this year. Read more about the project here.
Posts Tagged ‘chickens’
8 Jun
20 June, 2012: Chicken Presentation at the Riverside Public Library
Home to Roost Urban Chicken Consulting was hatched upon finding that people in urban and suburban areas are flocking to chicken raising. Why is this trend catching on? One of the main reasons is eggs. Come to this presentation to learn more about the other reasons behind this segment of the urban agriculture movement.
Wednesday: June 20, 2012
at 7:00 p.m.
in the Great Room of the Riverside Public Library
For more information contact:
Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, Riverside, IL 60546, 708-442-6366, www.riversidelibrary.org or www.olmstedsociety.org.
6 Jun
Deerfield, IL, Considers Chickens
How many hens do you think families in Deerfield should be allowed to have? Vote and read more about this piece of news here!
1 Jun
21 June, 2012: Home to Roost Chicken-Keeping Class
Home to Roost has partnered with Dabble to offer a chicken-keeping class in Lincoln Park at Topics on Thursday, June 21, from 6-8 PM. You can sign up on the Dabble site. 
You say you’ve always thought about raising your own coop of chickens. But the laws concerning such things are too complicated and you don’t know where to begin, so you’ve never really given it a try.
We say, bock bock. What are you … chicken?
Keeping a city coop of chickens is legal in Chicago, and lots of do-it-yourselfers are already adding feathered friends to the backyard. This Dabble class is designed for folks who are considering getting chickens, or who just want to know why this urban trend is growing … as well as for those who already have their own birds and who want to learn more. It’s also a good way to introduce city officials to best practices of urban chicken farming. Come learn how to raise chicks, care for adult birds, and keep your neighbors happy!
Prepare to leave armed with information about raising a happy, healthy bunch of chicks and be well on your way to reaping the reward of freshly laid eggs!
12 Apr
Palatine, IL, Wants Chickens
A Palatine couple seeks the right to keep chickens. For more information and a link to their Facebook page, read this article.
“Consider being a part of this group to support green living in the Palatine area by allowing backyard hens!” the Facebook page states.
11 Apr
Chickens and Property Values
One of the common complaints of village boards when considering allowing chicken keeping is “But property values will go down.”
Urban Chicken Advocates of Nashville (UCAN) examined the property values of cities that allow chickens and determined that there seems to no direct correlation between chicken keeping and property values. To read the article, click here.
10 Apr
Annapolis, MD, Approves Chickens
After a particularly protracted debated, which lasted until 1 AM, Annapolis, MD, city council approved chicken keeping.
…the most recent bill allowed for up to five chickens per residence and requires a setback of 5 feet from the property line. All coops must comply with building codes. There will be no roosters allowed, only chickens*. And this legislation has a sunset clause of three years. If the council takes no further action, chickens will once again be banished from the City.
To read more, check out the original article.
*The author means hens. Chicken refers to both genders; hen is female, rooster is male.
27 Mar
Benefits of Chickens in Breaking Insect Pest Cycles
Check out this video that describes how poultry rid the garden of insect pests.
12 Mar
Jennifer Aniston Joins Backyard Poultry Movement
Apparently Jennifer Aniston is now a chicken keeper. Her new $21 million Bel Air home came with a coop (not a coupe) and several birds. Los Angeles allows 4 hens. Read more here.
22 Feb
Chickens Approved in Elgin
The city of Elgin, IL, just approved chickens!
Todd Martin made the proposal, and here is his report:
“At tonight’s City of Elgin’s Sustainability Commission meeting, my proposal to allow backyard chickens has been approved. The next step is to meet with Elgin’s planning department for crafting the ordinance, then the Planning Commission, then the City Council. Lots of steps and community involvement along the way. If you have any questions, look at West Dundee’s licensing program; we will be modeling ours on theirs.”
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