BRADLEY, IL – The streets of Bradley witnessed an unexpected sight over the weekend as a runaway chicken took to the town.
The presumed escapee was first brought to attention through the Neighbors app, where a concerned resident posted a message asking if anyone had lost a chicken. Accompanied by a photo, the message described a large white and red chicken confidently strutting around the fields near the edgebrook subdivision.
Identified as a Schweizer chicken, a Swiss breed known for its egg-laying prowess, producing around 200 eggs annually.
In recent years, a number of communities have instituted proposals for backyard chicken regulations. Kankakee, Bradley, and Peotone have all taken steps to establish ordinances that facilitate urban farming and enable residents to raise poultry. Although permits are generally required, it is worth noting that roosters are prohibited in most cases.
The details surrounding the chicken’s escape and ownership remain a mystery. Animal control officers are diligently searching for the owner, but if no one comes forward, alternative arrangements will be made.
Under the Village of Bradley ordinance, you can keep no more than six chickens at a time. Residents in violation of the ordinance could be fined in excess of $750 if certain requirements are not met. Though no particular penalties are currently set for when one manages to escape.
