The Windy City Coop Tour showcases Chicagoans’ backyard chickens. (Chicagoland Chicken Enthusiasts / Facebook)

Get a glimpse of how your fellow Chicagoans are blurring the line between urban and rural living during the 10th annual Windy City Coop and Eco-Yards Tour.

Organized by the Chicagoland Chicken Enthusiasts, the tour will take place Saturday and Sunday, with hosts at more than two dozen sites sharing their experiences of raising urban livestock, growing their own food and exploring other sustainable practices — all while living in the middle of a major metropolitan area. 

In addition to chickens, visitors are likely to come across goats, bees, turkeys and quail. The tour is designed to both dispel myths and misconceptions about urban livestock and also to demonstrate what can be achieved in an urban backyard. Examples of sustainable living include composting, solar installations, rainwater collection and more. 

Sessions will be available 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Some sites are open during all four sessions, some are limited to a single day or session. A handy color-coded grid displays information about each site, including which dates and times they’re open to guests.

The self-guided tour is free and open to all, but no dogs or other pets will be permitted. Host sites span the entire city, and include a couple of suburban locations. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, masks must be worn when visiting a property.

Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 |  [email protected]