Darien Chicken Owner Fights For Rights

DARIEN, IL — Darien resident Melissa Goodridge says her family bought backyard chickens when they received stimulus money in the spring. It was an opportunity to help feed the family during a tough time.

Now, she said she is fighting a city effort to restrict chickens in town. Officials said they have received complaints about the chickens at Goodridge's house on Seminole Drive. Because of noise, the city asked Goodridge to find a new home for her rooster, which she said she willingly did.

At last week's City Council meeting, Alderman Tom Belczak, whose Ward 7 includes Seminole, raised the issue of chicken regulations because of the complaints. In response, officials agreed to look into the possibility of an ordinance.

After a Patch story appeared about the issue, Goodridge launched a petition on Change.org to "save the rights" of Darien chicken owners. More than 400 people have signed as of Tuesday.

"We currently have six hens who will be providing six eggs per day," Goodridge said in the petition. "We now home-school our children. The chickens are a large part of home schooling. The children learn responsibility along with pride in knowing they can care for chickens."

She said her family took a financial hit after the pandemic, with her unemployed for months.

"We could easily qualify for many financial services, but instead we found other ways to supplementally feed our family and enrich our home schooling," Goodridge said. "In my opinion, we have really made the best of a bad situation."

Darien's current ordinances do not address such fowl in residential neighborhoods, despite the increasing national popularity of backyard chickens. The city, however, has power to take action on nuisances such as noise — thus the concern with the crowing rooster. Belczak said it would be wise for the city to consider drafting an ordinance to regulate chickens.

Mayor Joseph Marchese told the council that many people in town have chickens. One of his good friends, he said, has neighbors on both sides with chickens.

In her petition, Goodridge urged residents to attend the next City Council meeting to support the rights of chicken owners. The council next meets at 7:30 pm. Monday at City Hall.