Elgin allows chickens in 2015 — but only for 15 homes

Now that Elgin will be officially welcoming chickens to its backyards, the question among those who've pushed for the initiative is, 'Will we be among the lucky 15?”

The city council gave its OK to a one-year pilot program allowing up to 15 residents to keep up to four hens — no roosters — in the backyards of single-family homes.

The city will accept applications for licenses Jan. 1-15 and will use a lottery system if there are more than 15 applicants.

Resident Christina Aagesen, who set the process in motion by advocating for backyard chickens to the city's sustainability commission earlier this year, said her guess is there will be more than 15 applicants.

The Woodbridge North subdivision where she lives doesn't allow chickens, so Aagesen hopes to successfully push for that to change, too.

The process “has definitely given me a lot of perspective of local government that I might otherwise not have,” she said.

Meanwhile, residents like Jaime Yucuis know for sure they'll be applying for the $30 license and $65 building permit for the coops. Both are one-time fees.

Most store-bought eggs trigger a soy allergy for her and her 3-year-old son, Yucuis said.

“Conventional (eggs) are so heavily loaded on chicken feed,” she said. “My son and I both are very, very reactive to conventional eggs, but we found if we bought farm-fresh eggs, we weren't.”

Yucuis said Elgin's pilot program is too small. “We hope and pray that we end up one of the lucky 15,” she said.

At least 14 suburbs allow backyard chickens, including Batavia, Naperville, West Dundee, Bartlett, Libertyville and Warrenville.

In Elgin, coops must allow at least 10 square feet per hen, and be at least 25 feet from neighboring residential structures and six feet from adjacent property lines.

Council members John Prigge, Rich Dunne and Terry Gavin voted against the measure last week.

Prigge said he's heard from residents who are concerned about chicken smells and suggested the coops be built within 25 feet of their owners' homes. The idea didn't gain any traction among council members.

Councilwoman Tish Powell pointed out smells can be an issue for pets, too.

“There's pretty ratchet smells pertaining to cats and dogs in our neighborhood,” she said. “In terms of how we deal with those, you talk to your neighbors and you hope that they comply.”

Councilwoman Carol Rauschenberger suggested staff members ask those who apply for coop permits to first speak with their neighbors about any chicken allergies they might have.

Resident Lauren Reibel, whose great-grandfather used to own a poultry farm in Elgin, said she and her husband Christian will also apply for a license.

“(Chickens) provide insect control in the yard as well as good lawn fertilizer,” she said. “I love knowing where my food is coming from and being able teach my son a valuable lesson about sustainability.”

Reibel said she's concerned about what will happen to the chickens if the one-year trial program is not extended. Her solution? Renting chickens.

“There's a couple places in Michigan that will drive the chickens here during the warm months when they are most productive and will come back in November to pick them up.”