Normal says no to urban poultry plan

NORMAL, Ill. — It may be perfectly normal to raise chickens in your back yard. But it isn't OK in Normal.

The (Bloomington) Pantagraph reports that the Normal City Council voted 6-1 Monday against allowing local residents to keep chicken coops in their yards.

Council member Chris Chambers was among the "no" votes. He says there was good and bad in the proposal to allow chicken coops. But in the end, he says, "When you live in town you don't have the expectation of having chickens."

Councilman Adam Nielsen voted against the idea, too. He says allowing chickens would just create a new source of potential conflict among neighbors.