Residents aren’t chicken about keeping poultry
By Karie Angell Luc Contributor January 24, 2012 8:18PM
Northbrook's Jeff Spitz holds Robert, one of his two chickens near his garage. Robert is almost one year old. Buddy Nigel shares the henhouse. Both are female. | Karie Angell Luc~for Sun-Times Media
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Updated: February 27, 2012 8:25AM
Northbrook’s Jennifer Amdur Spitz watched her son A.J., 16, a Glenbrook North High School sophomore, make his favorite “egg in a hole” breakfast.
Salt and pepper, “sometimes with hot sauce” — always fried over easy inside sourdough bread — is comfort food.
“It’s something we used to make when I was a kid,” said Amdur Spitz, whose family moved from Chicago about three years ago.
“It’s my favorite breakfast,” said A.J., cracking two brown eggs produced literally steps from his Northbrook kitchen stove.
His two female chickens Robert and Nigel, with masculine names (thanks to A.J.) — provide one egg each daily inside a garage-wintered henhouse.
“They’re more of an eggy flavor, they taste better,” said A.J, whose brother Sam is a Colgate University (Hamilton, NY) senior.
An organic gardener, A.J.’s mom ordered eggs producing baby chicks from the Webster City Iowa-based Murray McMurray Hatchery catalog after her green thumb didn’t hatch her son’s interest.
Amdur Spitz read about raising chickens in a local newsletter.
“We did this thinking we were legal,” she said. “We didn’t think we were breaking the law.”
Recently, residents have proposed changing the village animal codes to allow Northbrook residents to raise domestic chickens, primarily for the ability to have fresh eggs.
While the Village Board of Trustees voted earlier this month 4-2 to send the issue to the Communications & Legislation Committee — this only brings the matter before a review. Two village trustees, A.C. Buehler and Michael Scolaro, said at the Jan. 10 meeting they were against the idea.
As of Tuesday, Northbrook Village President Sandra Frum said she hadn’t made up her mind.
Currently, a minimum of two acres of property is required to keep a limit of three farm birds. Under Section 510 of the current code, shelters must be at least 150 feet away from public or residential property lines.
In the neighborhood where the Spitz family resides, the overwintering henhouse is technically within an estimated 20 feet of a residential lot line.
Amdur Spitz says she has taken steps to be a good neighbor. She bought a special electronic pet control device (allegedly unheard by human ears) which is sold with promises to discourage mice.
“This high-pitched thing from Do It Best Hardware right here in Northbrook keeps mice away,” she claimed, of the plug-in.
“Come on out sweetie,” she urged gently, to her chickens.
An estimated $800 investment in equipment, food and workshops, Nigel and Robert clucked softly at her feet.
“They’re expensive eggs,” Jeff Spitz chuckled.
“They’re interesting creatures, look at them eating,” said his wife.
“Robert’s bigger, Nigel is bossier. See, they’re just really curious, they don’t peck, this is the noise, doesn’t that sound horrible?”
Jennifer Amdur Spitz, a Chicago public relations firm principal, collaborates with her husband on their Groundswell Educational Films, which promotes the Food Patriots public awareness campaign.
Home-raised chickens produce eggs higher in vitamins and lower in cholesterol, activists urge.
“There is a whole urban subculture of chicken enthusiasts and it makes it possible for somebody like me, who is not very knowledgeable, to be able to own chickens and to know resources are available,” said Amdur Spitz.
Two Facebook pages promote Northbrook chickens. “Nigel & Robert” is a fan page created by teenagers. Another Facebook page is “Keeping Chickens in Northbrook, IL.”
The Spitz’s next door neighbor whose lot line is closest to henhouse is supportive.
“I think it’s been fun for everyone in the neighborhood,” said Paul Domijan.
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