Chicken debate tabled in Carpentersville

Some are calling it a rising fad, others link it to the "green movement," but so far it has missed Carpentersville and seems like it will continue to do so for the near future, anyway: backyard chickens.

The Carpentersville village board Tuesday night decided to sidestep the debate.

Tractor Supply Co. sells baby chicks at its Carpentersville location but can only sell to people who live outside the village. That's because as it reads now, the code prohibits residents from keeping poultry. The board discussed forbidding Tractor Supply Co. from selling them and opening the door to allowing residents to own chickens, but both ideas were disliked by board members.

Village President Ed Ritter said the farm supply store should be allowed to cater to farmers and sell farm products, including the chicks.

"We have to be careful saying we want your business, but we don't want your business," Ritter said.

But Trustee Paul Humpfer spoke against the discord between what Tractor Supply Co. can sell and what residents can buy.

"To me it seems a little crazy to allow a store in town to sell chickens but not allow our residents to have them," Humpfer said.

West Dundee has recently discussed changes concerning the ownership of chickens, a fact Humpfer and other trustees pointed to on Monday. The West Dundee board tabled a measure at their last meeting but will likely see it again on Oct. 4 concerning lowering the cost per chicken to keep them and capping the number residents are allowed to have.

Though Humpfer and Trustee Pat Schultz think it would be a good idea to research measures like West Dundee is considering, the rest of the board was opposed and the matter was dropped.

"I don't want to have chickens in the town and even if we suggest research we're going to open a can of worms," said Trustee Judy Sigwalt.