Darien Chicken Battle Prompts Online Debate

DARIEN, IL — Last week, Darien officials pondered the effects of a chicken coop on nearby property values during a City Council meeting. They had no definitive answers, but people aired their views on the Darien Patch website.

The debate over backyard chickens started recently when neighbors complained about the six egg-laying chickens at the home of Melissa Goodridge and James Harvatt, who live on Seminole Drive. Darien has no ordinance on chickens, but aldermen are now considering regulations.

Some people who weighed in on Darien Patch were from elsewhere. A couple used a slur for white, rural people.

"The debate about backyard chicken-keeping based on 'property values' is coded language that actually means the elites in your town think chicken-keeping is for low-class (slur) and other low-class people," a Huntley woman said.

A Chicago man disagreed.

"You are wrong. There are hard-working people who want to have a nice house, and they want a nest egg when they retire," he said. "I think you have a liberal idea that people who are concerned about property values are elites. I think your code words are lies, and you are a liberal hack. You look for this sinister low-life (slur) strange view you have of people that are responsible."

A Darien man said he had knowledge how the real estate market reacts to chicken coops.

"Guess how many people complained about my chicken coop when they came to see my house when I put it on the market? Zero. Guess how many people complained about the barking dogs next door? Every single one," the man said. "Anyone who lets their property get rundown is going to decrease their and the neighbors' property value. You don't need chickens to do that."

Another Darien man said chickens have no place near houses.

"If you want to raise chickens, buy a freaking farm!" he said. "Darien is a residential neighborhood, and I feel for Goodridge's neighbors. I wouldn't want that crap by my home."

Check other stories about the chicken debate:

Backyard Chickens Upset Some Darien Residents

Darien Chicken Owner Fights For Rights

Darien Family Makes Case For Chickens

The Case Against Chickens In Darien Neighborhood

Darien Chicken Debate Goes Before Council

Darien Question: Do Chicken Coops Hurt Property Values?