Can we talk about the poultry-litical and egg-onomic state of the world right now? Due to multiple factors, including the ever-growing price of eggs, many residents in the Homewood area are taking advantage of the suburb’s chicken laws. 

An April 25, 2014 Village of Homewood ordinance permitted residents to keep up to six chickens in approved backyard environments, under the condition that the owner apply for a license and pass an insp-egg-tion. 

The ‘Midwest’s only’ chicken consultant, Jennifer Murtoff, who has built a name for herself in the Chicagoland area by teaching classes and assisting clients with chicken care throughout Illinois, hosted an event at the Homewood Library on May 10, enlightening attendees on everything from legal concerns, coop setup, resources for help and feed.  

Murtoff finds that the most common mistake with chicken keeping is impulse buying. “I’ve had clients who had to get rid of their chickens because they’re allergic to them or just have no idea what they’re doing,” shared Murtoff. “The best thing you can do is make sure you’re educated.” 

Junior Morgan Lawrence and her family are no strangers to these feathered friends. They’ve kept their current chickens since spring of 2020, when they first began building a coop in their yard, and have prior owning experience from years before then. 

“The eggs are for sure a big benefit. With all the inflation, they’ve become more expensive than they should be and having our own definitely saves us money and even allows us to sell to another family,” said Lawrence. Besides the eggs, families like the Lawrence family and Homewood residents, the Schlismanns, have found that owning chickens can make for a fun conversation starter and a great way to build community. 

Though only recently beginning their chicken-keeping journey, the Schlismanns did not make this decision based on egg prices. “We thought it would be fun for our two younger sons, as a good way to learn responsibility that’s a little bit different from the traditional cat and dog,” explained Scott Schlismann. “It also coincided with the garden we’re growing and plans to eat fresher, removing unhealthy commercialization from the products we use and eat day-to-day.” 

Murtoff finds that along with their droppings making for great fertilizer, chickens are fun. “People tell me they’re better than television,” she shared, amused. “They’re funny, entertaining and calming, they make good pets, they have personalities.”

Though both families have found success and beloved additions to their home coops, they acknowledge that chickens aren’t going to be for everyone. “I would recommend them only if you are willing to deal with all of it. You must be willing to deal with cleaning the coop, feed and water, collecting eggs, health issues, safety, the smell, sometimes the loud noises, as well as being friendly, attentive and loving overall,” advised Lawrence. 

The Schlismanns believe that, as with any pet, it should be a conversation with the whole household. “I think it really depends on your individual family’s lifestyle,” states Jacqueline Schlismann. “You’d have to really talk that decision over with them and make sure it’s right for you. Chickens certainly aren’t for everyone, but luckily they work for our family.”

Families looking for resources to get started can attend any of Murtoff’s upcoming classes, including a Sept. 13 event at Lyle Public Library, Sept. 23 at Woodstock Public Library and Sept. 30 at Prospect Heights Public Library.