First backyard coop opens for Elgin's first backyard chickens

Elgin's first backyard chickens got their permanent home outdoors, a topic that sparked debate earlier among city council members.

Resident Pete Mangan said his nearly month-old chickens seemed to take well to his backyard coop on Thursday, right after the structure was inspected by the city.

"They were a little nervous about it at first. They were kind of huddled up in the corner, then they started getting used to it," he said. "All of a sudden they were walking around eating the grass."

Only 15 residents are allowed in a one-year pilot program that allows chickens in backyards of houses in Elgin. Mangan's coop was the first inspected and approved by the city, senior management analyst Aaron Cosentino said.

The baby chicks lived in Mangan's basement, under a heating lamp, after they arrived in Elgin in early March. Indoor chickens are not allowed in town, but council members decided not to take punitive action after the issue was raised by Councilman John Prigge.

Mangan said he might substitute his $140, Amazon-bought coop with something bigger and nicer in a year or two.