Ald. Lopez wants stricter regulations on backyard chickens

Ald. Lopez Wants Stricter Regulations on Backyard Chickens in Wake of Bird Flu Outbreak

Tighter Rules on the Horizon for Urban Livestock

For the past five years, Jefferson Park resident Jesse Le-Seibert has raised chickens in her backyard, which has allowed her family to enjoy fresh eggs. However, with the recent bird flu outbreak, concerns have grown, and Ald. Ray Lopez is calling for stricter regulations on backyard chickens.

Ald. Lopez’s Plan

Lopez (15th) plans to resurrect his failed 2019 effort to tighten the rules regarding owning livestock. He emphasizes that he is not looking to ban chicken coops, but rather limit the number of chickens residents can have and outlaw roosters and other animals like sheep.

"We need to set humane standards that are acceptable," he said. "Most people who live in the city, if they wanted to live on a farm, they’d live on a farm. They don’t want to be woken up by a rooster or see goats roaming around because you don’t have a lawn mower."

Concerns About Bird Flu

While waterfowl seem to be the majority of bird species coming down with the bird flu, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources has encouraged poultry owners to increase biosecurity measures and prevent contact with wild birds.

Le-Seibert keeps four chickens in an enclosed coop in her backyard. She is concerned about her animals catching bird flu, but she worries that the city could ban them based on fears, even though no one locally has come down with the disease.

Concerns About Overreaction

Le-Seibert is worried that the city could overreact and ban backyard chickens, despite the lack of evidence of the disease in the area. "I was always afraid because [the chickens] can catch [bird flu] from wild birds. But my chickens are in a coop that’s covered with plastic on top," she said.

The coop also has plastic underneath it to keep rodents out. "They eat food that is store-bought and are isolated from wild birds," Le-Seibert said.

Conclusion

Ald. Lopez’s plan to tighten regulations on backyard chickens is in response to the growing concerns about bird flu. While some, like Le-Seibert, are worried about the potential overreaction, others may see this as a necessary step to ensure public health and safety.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the current policy on keeping backyard chickens?
  The city allows residents to keep farm animals like chickens and cows, which produce "edible byproducts" such as eggs or milk, as long as they aren’t slaughtered for food.
• What is Ald. Lopez’s proposal?
  Ald. Lopez plans to limit the number of chickens residents can have and outlaw roosters and other animals like sheep.
• How do backyard chicken owners like Le-Seibert feel about the proposal?
  Le-Seibert is concerned about the potential overreaction and the possibility of the city banning backyard chickens despite the lack of evidence of the disease in the area.