Call for chickens continues in McHenry

Adrian Plante has an 8-foot high, wire and wood chicken coop in his backyard.

When a city building inspector came by about a year ago, Plante of McHenry found out he needed a permit for the structure. During that same visit, the inspector discovered the four hens, and Plante found out they weren’t allowed in the city.

So for the last year, Plante has housed his hens on a farm in Prairie Grove as he spoke to city council and staff members about the possibility of allowing hens in McHenry.

He participated in committee meetings to convince city officials to allow chickens, while city staff – like their counterparts in Crystal Lake where backyard hen-keeping also is under consideration – gathered information on the subject.

On Thursday, the city Planning and Zoning Commission will give its thoughts on a proposed ordinance allowing people to have chickens on residential properties.

The city is proposing that a maximum of 10 licenses be allowed in town, and there be a waiting list for those who are interested.

During a Community Development Committee meeting, Alderwoman Geri Condon said she wanted to see how the project goes in the first year, but she would be open to more permits in the future.

Under the proposal, people will be allowed to have up to four hens and the permit will cost $50.

Also, if there is a homeowners association for the neighborhood, the association would need to sign off on the hens, said Kathi Kunzer, deputy city clerk.

Crystal Lake also is considering allowing chickens to be kept in people’s backyards, and Plante has appeared at Crystal Lake meetings to support those efforts. The Crystal Lake City Council will further discuss the issue at its meeting Tuesday.

In McHenry, Plante brings his hens home every once in a while so they can eat the weeds and insects in his backyard garden, where he grows spinach, tomatoes, onions, squash, peppers, carrots and eggplants, among other produce.

Plante sells the eggs from his hens and produce at farmers markets.

“They work in the yard,” Plante said. “I don’t have to apply chemicals to get rid of weeds, they don’t eat the grass, they selectively eat the weeds. They eat the insects out of the garden, they help me with my work load. Their droppings get turned into compost, which gets converted to the fertilizer for the garden.”

The 35-year-old contractor said people should speak to neighbors and get their feedback before bringing hens into a backyard.

“I’m going to do sustainable food, organic gardening, is that something that is going to affect you? Give information about the care and upkeep,” Plante said. “They don’t smell ... they sleep all night. If they get out, they’re not going to bite a child.”

Hens will lay eggs for five or six years, Plante said. Hens produce one egg a day, but are limited to about 270 eggs a year, as they go dormant during the winter because of the limited daylight.

“Once most people really get a look and they understand what you’re doing, and the whole goal of providing a little better food for your family – and if you give them a couple eggs here and there – it usually helps calm the waters,” Plante said.