With a Cluck Cluck Here: Elmhurst Residents Say Raising Chickens at Home Just Makes Sense
But will Elmhurst City Council go for it?
Will feathers fly in the great Chicken War of Elmhurst? Or, will the chicken contingent get what it wants without too much squawking? What will happen to Elmhurst if residents are allowed to own and raise chickens in their back yards?
From Pennsylvania to Florida, from Minnesota to Virginia, there seems to be a national movement afoot to persuade cities to pass ordinances allowing residents to raise chickens in their urban landscapes.
And Elmhurst is no exception. Currently, Elmhurst's Municipal Code Chapter 13.21(p) prohibits residents from keeping a "stable, poultry yard or other place for the housing of any farm animal." (Apparently, you can be grandfathered in to owning a pot bellied pig, however.)
Elmhurst resident Sarah Makinney via Change.org has started a petition that asks the Elmhurst City Council to "Allow residents to have a small number of hens within city limits." She is circulating it on Facebook, among other places. As of Thursday afternoon, 34 Elmhurst residents had signed it; 2,000 signatures is the goal.
The petition states:
"We, the undersigned citizens of Elmhurst, IL, believe that chickens belong within the city limits. City ordinance must be changed to allow a small number of hens in our urban back yards for the following reasons:
- Rich fertilizer byproduct increases garden health
- Helps control pests and weeds (they love Japanese beetles!)
- Educates children about food sources
- Increases local food security by providing delicious and nutritious fresh eggs
- Waste reduction (table scraps and garden waste can be fed to chickens)
- Increases self-sufficiency and inter-dependency within our community
- A properly cleaned and maintained chicken coop is no threat to sanitation
By allowing chickens within the city limits, the City of Elmhurst will encourage stewardship of the urban landscape and food production on a household scale."
Makinney is not the only Elmhurst resident interested in this movement. A number of residents have contacted city aldermen and gotten the ball rolling. On Sept. 4, the City Council referred the matter to the Development, Planning and Zoning Committee for discussion. It was originally brought before the council by 3rd Ward Alderman Dannee Polomsky, and 2nd Ward aldermen Bob Dunn and Norman Leader.
"In response to residents' requests, we are asking that the City Council consider an ordinance to permit chickens in residential areas," they wrote in a memo to the council. "Other communities successfully regulate the number of chickens permitted and/or prohibit roosters for the purpose of preventing disturbance to neighbors."
Sounds simple. But even though chickens are almost always good for a laugh, history has shown that some people get pretty agitated over the idea of sharing the block with them. The most common concerns are over noise, waste, odor and disease, and rodents being attracted to chicken feed. Check out part of the debate in Batavia last year.
These worries, proponents say, could also be applied to dogs, however, and no one would think of banning them.
Eventually, Batavia did adopt a chicken ordinance, but only after many hours of public comment. And the vote was split—not an overwhelming endorsement, by any measure.
In Plainfield, it looks like residents may soon be able to enjoy farm fresh eggs from their own back yards. Other towns that allow the birds include Evanston, Naperville, Oak Park and the City of Chicago.
Are chickens already here? If they are, it's on the down low. Occasionally, one can be seen at the Spring Road Pet Parade, but it's usually disguised in a suit.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. The matter did not make it onto either of the September DPZ Committee meeting agendas. The next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 8, but the agenda has not yet been posted.
We'll let you know how it all plays out. In the meantime, it's never too early to start thinking of names.
Sarah Makinney
4:12 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
Thanks! Here is a great article about having chickens in communities such as Elmhurst:
http://www.plymouth-review.com/news/2011-05-10/Neighbors/Shattering_seven_urban_myths_about_raising_chicken.html
Sylvester
1:01 am on Friday, October 12, 2012
Another great article on the very ancient tradition, the chicken - in Smithsonian magazine : http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/How-the-Chicken-Conquered-the-World.html
Bob Howard
8:01 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
is this a late April fools joke ?
Alex
8:30 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
But wouldn't it be so funny to see someones chicken running down york road or as you are taking a walk on the prairie path.
traderchick
10:56 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
wow just saw the results and I am in the minority...come on Elmhurst...really? VOTE NO chickens
M
7:23 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
Give me a break...NO CHICKENS!!!
Joe
8:12 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
YOU ARE BEEING RIDICULOUS!!!!! CHICKENS ARE SO CUTE!! HAVENT YOU EVER HEARD OF FRIED CHICKEN!!! ELMHURST VOTE YES FOR CHICKENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Doremus Jessup
7:52 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
Yes to the Hens, but you got to share the eggs.
Bunky
8:07 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
I think it is an excellent option for anyone who would be interested in owning them.
Elm Forest
8:26 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
If your neighbor has laying chickens. You will probably receive some of the most tasty eggs you have ever had. Actually fresh eggs straight from the coop taste unbelievable and are incredibly nutritious. Of course it does depend on their diet and most people should know these facts but it's still worth stating.
Don't know if I would want to put in the time that is required as I do know people and family members that had laying chickens. There must be some previsions for a clean and cared for coop etc. and without looking I'm sure there are but let the chickens in. Just keep the renters out. Ha.
One other thought is the current state with coyotes, fox and the like would of course play into this. The natural predators will be drawn to your coop (aspiring chicken owners listen up) and want to return whenever they're hungry. So since it's unlawful for the chicken keepers to shoot the predators, what do they do? I still say let the chickens in. Then the bears can follow the coyotes as that's the food chain. Ha.
Joy
9:19 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
I am saying yes but there needs to be some restrictions or it could go way wrong. I would worry about coyotes coming into my yard but we already have seen foxes and a coyote approached my dogs at the park. I can see the pros and cons but other communities that are more hoity toity than we think we are have pulled it off successfully.
Cronan
9:33 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
Do we really have to jump on every trending fad that comes along? It's like dealing with children, "Can I please have a chicken Mommy, please?!" and then reality sets in.
Chickens are awsome
8:26 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
People have been raising chickens for thousand of years and F.Y.I. that would be a really long fad for loving and getting great tasting eggs from the best animal in true world.
Sarah Makinney
9:38 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
@Joy,
I completely agree about restrictions-I too would like to maintain a beautiful clean city(neighborhood and home too), and for chickens to coexist, the laws discussed above are necessary! I've seen first hand that having a chicken coop in your fenced in yard, does not impact at all. As for predators, they are already here, attracted to geese, cats,small dogs, squirrels,etc. There are inexpensive means to prevent them from getting chickens, and if any chicken owners want to prevent their hens from being eaten would have them in place:)
Chickens are awsome
8:23 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Vote chickens!!!
Alex
8:34 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
the First amendment states you can freely be free and within your own home, you can have way type of pet you want, and if chickens aren't bothering the people directly neighboring you then who gives a **** what the person all the way on the other side of town thinks!
traderchick
9:36 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
guess old school here and times are a changing :-)...have loads of issues with deer and raccoons already in town so yeah lets add clucking farm animals to the mix hee haw y'all welcome on my deck to see the wildlife meybe we can barBque together yeehaw dumbing down down down
Henrietta
5:54 pm on Friday, October 19, 2012
Unsure how knowing where our food comes from -or for that matter, unsure how having pets is 'dumbing down down down'? Traderchick -seems that you might be afraid of animals. Face the facts, or better yet, recall that much of the food that you eat has its origin from animal sources. It does not take an advanced degree to know that animals can be our pets and some animals can be our food source. Bawk! Bawk! Bawk!
Elm Forest
12:23 am on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Yeah, let the chickens in. There can be a barbeque following a public butchering when it's time to replace the old hens that quite laying eggs. It's gruesome but kind of entertaining watching them run around trying to fly with their heads cut off. Sorry, if that upsets you but if you have chickens what's the procedure once they are none productive layers? If it's done right after they bleed out you gather the dead and put them in boiling water until you can pluck the feathers out. Then you have to clean the innards out. Who in Elmhurst will do this? Someone surprise me with a service that picks up your unsuspecting birds for slaughter. There needs to be a chicken prodigal even to the end of the bird if you let the egg makers in.
Sylvester
12:49 am on Friday, October 12, 2012
What happens to other pets or animals that people currently keep in Elmhurst? It is an inappropriate tangential aspect of this topic.
Cronan
9:12 am on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
@Chickens are awesome...The "fad" is pretending to be a farmer you numbskull.
How about we focus our efforts on dealing with all the crime in our community and that pesky heroin problem. Chickens=avoidance...typical.
Sylvester
12:57 am on Friday, October 12, 2012
Do you really think that some households with a few female chickens (hens) laying eggs is going to serve as a distraction from cracking down on any sort of crime wave that has encroached. Fighting crime is important, yes! But, lets not over-regulate the good folks here in Elmhurst with prohibitive animal ordinances. Keep the ordinance reasonable yet accomodating.
Farmer Brown/ life long Resident
7:25 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012
Raising chickens is part of the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) process; just like the farmers market in town. Raising some of our food locally on a small scale.
traderchick
10:33 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012
really? the farmer's market is on a Wed....I am WORKING during the week and have never been to this market for 20 yrs. I am from Oak Park and Downers Grove where the markets are on Saturday. Elmhurst is second player in this way. Chickens will not survive in my neighborhood with all the opossums skunk raccoon and deer ...moot point sigh no longer concerned :-) now on to the 2 residential crimes a block away Thursday....
PeachPlumperPie
6:03 pm on Friday, October 19, 2012
Dear traderchick..
How can you be from oak park and downers grove, but care about Elmhurst's ordinances.
Sylvester
12:41 am on Friday, October 12, 2012
Guy down the block has rabbits in a hutch up against his garage. I think rabbits in his outside secured cage is akin to the chickens in a cage idea that is circulating around as a proposal; not much different.
Elm Forest
1:20 am on Friday, October 12, 2012
Yeah Sylvester, When I was a guest on a French farm years ago one of may things they did was raised rabbits. For Sunday dinner we had one of them for the meat portion of the meal. It was a special meal I was told and the honor of eating the rabbit head, brains included, went to the Grandfather as they still honor their elders. I remember him being very diligent at eating every bit of it too. Oh, if you want to know the rabbit tasted pretty much like chicken, actually I really couldn't taste a difference at the time. But of course other regular meals were more exotic by American standards.
traderchick
11:55 pm on Saturday, October 20, 2012
@peachplumperpie hello I have been in Elmurst 25 + yrs and the farmers market is on a Wed? hello it is only convenient for locals who dont work on Wed
traderchick
12:04 am on Sunday, October 21, 2012
@peachplumperpie
originally from OP and DG meant to say...farmers markets have been around for 40+ yrs
traderchick
12:01 am on Sunday, October 21, 2012
@henrietta i DO know source of my food and pay premium for it ..moot point really between over population of oppusum raccoon deer traffic noise pollution chickens here would not last a week :-/
South Elmhurst
8:22 am on Monday, October 22, 2012
Traderchicken: most average folks can't afford the trader joes and whole foods stores. Besides, who wants to buy food that has to be transported from Guatemala just so they can buy 'organic.' It is possible to eat locally raised food while doing in an affordable way. I frequent the Elmhurst farmers' market every Wednesday morning at 7am, and still make it downtown to Chicago for work by 8. Having a few laying hens is not noisy at all. My neighbors's lap dog is the noisy one!
Elm Forest
3:49 am on Sunday, October 21, 2012
Traderchick it appears you may work at trader joe's in oak park. And yes farmers markets have been around for over 40 years. Actually they probably were here before Elmhurst was. My house was built a number of decades ago but before it was build the lot was a farm. Years ago I met an older gentleman (at least in his 70's then) who's father owned the lot when he was a kid. He told me about the crops they grew on the full acre of land and how they sold apples, peaches, berries, vegetables and more. I don't remember if he said they had chickens or rabbits or any kind of animals. They may have, I'm not sure. Let the chickens in but the owners have to understand it's not "for" fun raising layers. It's a lot of hard work. And the responsibility may be more than most want to deal with. Most farms do not have chickens for obvious reasons.