Welcome to McHenry County Backyard Chickens

Most Frequently Asked Question:
Can I have chickens where I live?

Here's what you need to find out in order to know:

1. Do you live within a town in McHenry County or do you live in unincorporated McHenry County?
If you live within a town limits the most likely answer is NO.
We have heard a rumor that one of the Barringtons that is partially in McHenry Co. DOES allow backyard chickens but we've been unable to confirm this. Other towns within McHenry Co. (e.g., Crystal Lake, McHenry, Woodstock, etc.) do NOT allow backyard chickens.
2. Do you live within a subdivision that has covenants prohibiting poultry? If so the answer is also NO.
3. If you don't know what your zoning is you MUST find out. We cannot answer this question for you. You will need your property parcel number. If you are a young person please ask an adult to assist you with this task. Then go here:
http://www.mchenrycountygis.org/planning/

4. If you are zoned residential and live in unincorporated McHenry county here is your ordinance:
14.5.D.Chicken Coops and Chicken Runs (Non-Agriculture Exempt)
14.5.D.1.No person may keep more than six (6) chickens on any property at one time.
14.5.D.2.No commercial activity will result from the keeping of chickens on the property.
14.5.D.3.Roosters are not permitted. However, if the gender of a chick cannot be determined at hatching, a chick of either gender may be kept on the property for no more than six (6) months.
14.5.D.4.Chickens shall be kept in coops and fenced runs at all times. Chickens shall be kept in coops from dusk to dawn.
14.5.D.5.Chicken coops and runs shall meet the following standards:
14.5.D.5.a Chicken coops and runs shall be kept in the effective rear yard and shall be located at least ten (10) feet from any lot line and ten (10) feet from any other structure.
14.5.D.5.b.The facility shall be kept in good repair, maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, and free of vermin, obnoxious smells,and substances. The facility shall not create a nuisance or disturb neighboring residents due to noise, odor, damage,or threats to public health.
14.5.D.5.c.The chicken coop and run shall be designed to ensure the health and well being of the animal is not endangered by the manner of keeping or
confinement.
14.5.D.5.d.The chicken coop and run shall be adequately lighted and ventilated.
14.5.D.6.No storage of chicken manure is permitted within twenty (20) feet of the lot line.
14.5.D.7.Slaughtering of chickens on-site is prohibited

When you follow your ordinance you demonstrate that backyard chicken owners are responsible and sensitive to others' (e.g. your neighbors) needs. This is the way to show others that BYC is good for our communities!


NEWSFLASH!

Backyard chickens now ALLOWED in unincorporated McHenry County!
The Unified Development Ordinance was passed on 10/15/14 by the McHenry County Board by a vote of 16 to 2. This will allow those living in unincorporated residential zones to have up to SIX hens. Read the full ordinance on page 199, Article 14.5.D:
https://www.co.mchenry.il.us/home/showdocument?id=33902

We are advocates for updating ordinances in McHenry County, Illinois to allow backyard chickens. As McHenry County communities become chicken-friendly, we will also provide education on effective poultry management and support in following the updated local ordinances.



Please contact us at: [email protected] for more information.

 



10 GREAT REASONS TO HAVE CHICKENS

 http://www.mypetchicken.com/about-chickens/10-reasons-to-keep-backyard-chickens.aspx

Great-Tasting, Nutritious Eggs
We all love our dogs, cats and fish, but do they actually produce something edible? Or pay their own way? Chickens do, and once you've dined on their eggs you'll never reach for a dozen in the supermarket again. They're so much more flavorful, in no small part because you'll eat them when they're only minutes or hours old, not weeks or months. You'll even see the difference in the yolks, which are a healthy orange - not the pale yellow you're used to.

Plus, you can feel good about the organic eggs you'll be feeding your friends and family. All it takes to get organic eggs is organic chicken feed! Research shows that chickens allowed to roam freely and eat grass lay eggs that are higher in Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E and at the same time lower in cholesterol than store-bought, too. (Think of your hair and skin...)

Chickens Have Personality Galore -- Seriously!
Each chicken has their own completely unique quirky, kooky and endearing personality. They're stunningly beautiful too, parading around in a variety of colors, patterns, shapes and sizes. You'll name them, spoil them with treats, and pick them up and hug them any chance you get.

Get One Step Closer to Sustainable Living
Do you find it disconcerting how far removed we all are from the animals and plants we need to survive? How our fast-paced lives and ever-increasing demands are trashing the planet that sustains us? Believe it or not, keeping a few chickens in your backyard equates to taking a stand against all this. Read more about sustainable living with chickens http://www.mypetchicken.com/about-chickens/Sustainable_Living_With_Chickens.aspx

A Healthy Lawn without the Chemicals
Chickens LOVE to range freely, and allowing them to do so kills the proverbial two birds with one stone: they'll eat any garden pest they can get their beaks on (earwigs, grubs, beetles, even moles) and they'll turn it all into treasure in the form of fertilizer. Say goodbye to toxic, costly pest control solutions and wasteful bags and bottles of store-bought fertilizer. Chickens will even cut down on the amount of mowing you do because they love to eat grass. That's right -- you sit in a lounge chair with your mint julep while they do the hard work for you.

One Man's Unappealing Leftovers are another Chicken's FeastChickens can eat almost anything people can, and they adore "people food" -- so you can throw those unwanted leftovers into the chicken run. No more feeling guilty about letting them rot in the fridge or throwing them out! Watch out for the garlic and onion, though, unless you want your eggs tasting funny.

A Balanced Compost Pile
Composting is a wonderful way to reduce your ecological footprint, and a nitrogen-rich compost pile is a healthy compost pile. What better to provide the nitrogen than chicken poo? Eggshells are a great addition, too, especially in areas where there's lots of clay in the soil. At the end of the composting process you'll have "black gold" soil, so called because it's so rich and fertile.

Handy Leaf, Weed, and Grass Clipping Removal
Leaves, weeds and grass clippings are a treat for Gallus gallus domesticus. They'll happily dig through whatever you give them, eat what they can, and pulverize the rest. Give a small flock a heap of yard and garden debris and a week later it'll be gone without a trace. No need to bag it and pile it by the curb!

Save a Chicken from a Factory-Farm Life
If you're aware of conditions in factory farms, even in some of the so-called "free range" farms, we needn't say more. If you're not, please research it. Factory farming is terrifyingly cruel. The good news is that by keeping a few pet chickens of your own, you're reducing the demand for store-bought eggs and sending a message to those factory farms that you don't want what they're selling.

The Very Definition of Low-Maintenance
Chickens don't need to be walked, brushed, or fed twice a day. Essentially all you have to do is gather eggs daily, fill their food and water containers a couple of times a week and change their bedding once a month (weekly in summer)! (For more on chicken care, take a peek at our Free Chicken Care Guide. http://www.mypetchicken.com/backyard-chickens/chicken-care/guide-toc.aspx)

Be the Coolest Kid on the Block
Despite their many merits, backyard chickens are still relatively uncommon. Wow neighbors, friends and family by being the first person they know to have chickens. Amaze them with the green eggs from your Ameraucana hens. Confound them by scooping up your pet chicken and cuddling it. Astound them when your chicken falls asleep in your arms after you've lovingly stroked its comb and wattles. Make them green with envy at the lawn your flock has made effortlessly fabulous.

Chickens are, after all, the most "chic" pet you could possibly have. And we think it's time everyone knew.