East Dundee trustees discuss allowing backyard hens

East Dundee trustees have entered discussions surrounding the possibility of allowing residents to raise backyard hens.

Trustee Allen Skillicorn brought the issue forward at the Committee of the Whole meeting Monday, noting that he often receives emails from residents who ask if they can raise hens for organic eggs.

The village currently prohibits any farm animals from being raised within village limits, said Village Administrator Bob Skurla.

Some nearby villages, including West Dundee, allow backyard hens.

"They seem to be good neighbors in those communities," Skillicorn said. "I'd like for us to consider it here."

Skurla said many towns allowing backyard chickens have strict guidelines prohibiting roosters because of the loud noise and limiting the number of hens allowed per yard. In some cases, he said, specific licensing regulations are put in place for control purposes.

"They go through a lot of effort to allow people to have their fresh organic eggs in their backyard," Skurla said.

The village board has the power to set those necessary restrictions, Skillicorn said.

This isn't the first time the village has discussed allowing backyard hens, Skurla said. About seven years ago, after extensive discussion, the village board shot down the idea, he said. A few years later, the topic was up for discussion again but was never moved forward.

Though not opposed to moving forward with discussions, Trustee Rob Gorman said his greatest concern would be whether it is sanitary to allow the animals in a residential backyard.

Trustee Kirstin Wood echoed those concerns, adding that she wanted to make sure the hens would not get out of their coops. She also asked for the consideration of an inspection process.

East Dundee resident Lorise Amlin, who hopes to have backyard chickens, said resources are available for municipalities looking to allow residents to raise their own hens.

"There's a lot to consider when you decide to have urban chickens," she said.

Moving forward, Gorman said, village officials will look at model ordinances and bring forward suggestions for a proposal suitable for East Dundee.