Cary Could Join Growing List of Communities Allowing Backyard Chickens

“Roosters will be STRICTLY prohibited,” Samantha Jelinske stressed in her presentation before the Village Board on May 19. During the public forum portion of the evening she proposed an amendment to our municipal code that would allow Cary residents to raise hens.

She stressed that only hens should be allowed, as the noise complaints that target backyard chickens have been primarily caused by roosters’ typical early morning cock-a-doodle-doos. 

What is the Benefit of Backyard Chickens?

Fresh eggs, added food security, and sustainability are major benefits of raising hens at home. 

There’s also the additional piece of mind in knowing that at least one part of your meal came from a happy, healthy animal living in a safe home. 

Keeping the hens healthy and safe provides educational opportunities for adults and children as well as the incalculable joy in caring for any pet. 

The chickens themselves provide environmental benefits, according to “The Environmental Benefits of Backyard Chickens” by Jeniffer Murtoff for Chicago Botanic Garden. 

“Forget those nasty pesticides! Chickens are omnivores by nature and thoroughly enjoy chasing down plant-destroying insects like grasshoppers, grubs, beetles, and larvae” 

Murtoff also pointed to chickens' role in reducing human food waste simply by feeding themselves, stating that “four birds can power through more than 400 pounds of food waste in a year” 

Who Currently Has the Right to Raise Chickens?

The Village of Cary would not be the first to pilot the keeping of these yard birds. Chicago, Port Barrington, and unincorporated McHenry County all allow for backyard hens and pending legislation Illinois House Bill 4764 would allow for backyard hens under regulations specified by any given municipality.

Jelinske proposes “Responsible Ownership.” She advocated for a maximum of six hens kept only in the rear of a single family home and a prohibition on commercial egg sales or on-site chicken slaughtering.

Airtight containers were specified in her proposal to ward off rodents, racoons, and bugs that would otherwise target the food, irritating hens and humans. “1/2-inch steel hardware cloth (not flimsy chicken wire) and…anti-dig mesh apron buried 12 inches deep” on coops that would be . locked at night were her researched suggestions for “predator proofing.”

When asked privately how the board had previously responded to the chicken proposition Jelinske responded that they had “considered it 10 years ago and there didn't seem much interest.” 

In reaction to this charge Jelinske put out a community interest form and received 191 supportive responses from Cary residents in 162 neighborhoods. 

Watch Jelinske's proposal and the rest of the May 19 Village Board Meeting