Editor's note: This is the second in a periodic series about eating locally.

"Ella, Rainbow, Hotdog, Batman, Grace, and Superduck are my six girls," Sheri McNeil said, hazel eyes filled with laughter. "My grandchildren and husband each named one."

McNeil went on to explain, "These ordinances permit six hens, just to produce eggs—a 'microflock,' but no roosters. They're too noisy."

At the Roeland Park City Council meeting in November 2010, before the new ordinances were approved, more than 50 people attended to discuss the concept of "urban chickens."

Long interested in healthful food, McNeil shares that passion with millions of Americans today. She's on the Roeland Park Sustainability Council, which focuses on working the land to provide for individual needs without damaging the environment.

"The chickens are only part of this story," McNeil said.

McNeil and Roeland Park friend Teresa Kelly also belong to Cultivate KC. That's a group that practices what it preaches, as several hundred Kansas City residents learn, then teach, how to grow food in tiny plots or large gardens.

McNeil, 55, grew up in Wyandotte County, where her family raised farm animals. Later she taught living history to groups of children at the Shawnee Indian Mission for 15 years. She knows the value of providing real-life lessons to teach confidence and personal responsibility.

Kelly is a recent transplant from Montana, where she owned an herb store and greenhouse for several years. She's a Master Gardener and Master Composter.

"She's a valuable resource for us," McNeil said.

These two chicken-lovers first held an informational class at the Roeland Park Library to explore local interest in urban chickens. They had done extensive research of many sources. Out of that meeting and networking they formed CHIRP (City Hens In Roeland Park), a support group starting with nine Roeland Park residents who are learning the ropes.

Recently CHIRP presented a class called "Chickens 101" at the Roeland Park Community Center, where people from around the metropolitan area packed the room, taking notes and asking questions. Kelly brought two of her hens, who competed with the PowerPoint presentation, quietly clucking to each other, perching atop the water jug.

Cion Hamilton, a 69-year-old Spring Hill expert on chicken-raising, provides chicks and wisdom to the group. She has operated a farm for many years and works closely with 4-H clubs in Johnson County. She sells 300 eggs per day to regular customers throughout Greater Kansas City. And she provides fertilized eggs to 65 school classes across the county for grades kindergarten through six so students can watch the fluffy chicks peck through their shells.

One of the best resource books on urban chickens is City Chicks, by Patricia Foreman, 450 pages of humor, encouragement, and information to fill in gaps on the subject. Foreman writes, "The urban chicken movement is exploding across America," and, perhaps more surprising, "Many municipalities are now encouraging residents to keep laying-hens within city limits."

Although the movement is well-established in cities like New York and Boston, resistance results mostly from lack of information. For example, many people aren't aware of new scientific methods that keep coops safe and sanitary. McNeil uses pine shavings to line the roosts and runs, making morning cleaning very easy.

But it's not surprising that people have questions, because we're used to an urban life in which food comes from a supermarket. Probably the major question concerns property values. McNeil studied more than 100 cities across the country that permit urban chickens and found that not one neighborhood had experienced reduced property values.

"In fact, we have evidence of an opposite trend," McNeil said. "Our group was excited to learn that two of our CHIRP member families recently moved to Roeland Park because of our new ordinance."

Those residents say they want to live healthier lives and teach their children to be self-sufficient.

To call the charming little house where McNeil houses her chickens a "coop" is almost an insult. It's more like a designer house for garden fairies. The shingles are painted deep olive with crisp mint-green and white windows and trim to match the house. It looks like a picture from a child's book, nestled in the shade of a huge cottonwood tree. Brick-lined paths wind through small beds of vegetables and flowers, up to the antique screen doors.

At the City Council meeting where the ordinances were approved, attendees were encouraged to air their opinions and questions. Another CHIRP member, Michael Foltz, a 60-year-old residential architect and longtime resident of Roeland Park, chairs the Roeland Park Sustainability Committee.

"I don't want chickens of my own, but I'm happy about those who do," he nodded. "These regulations will work, and we need to continue fine-tuning them as we gain experience. All those involved will contribute to that process. The goal is to provide an environmentally conscious and livable city for everyone."

McNeil stressed that every jurisdiction is unique and that rules differ.

"People in other areas who are interested in urban chickens should stay in close touch with those in authority," she said. "We can only succeed if we're considerate of neighbors. As CHIRP members, we want to become a strong support group that will meet regularly and develop a community around sound practices. We want to build relationships that will benefit everyone."

Chicken questions?

• CHIRPKS@gmail.com (Sheri McNeil)
  
• egglady183@yahoo.com (Cion Hamilton)

Recommended sources

• www.backyardchickens.com
  This site has expanded its online membership from 12,000 to 90,000 in just four years.
  
• Chickens magazine
  
• Backyard Poultry magazine

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