* It’s Friday, so a light post is in order. AP…

Things are getting a little fowl at the Illinois governor’s mansion.

A flock of eight clucking hens has moved onto Executive Mansion property, laying eggs that are eaten by guests dining at the home in downtown Springfield.

The chickens peck at flowers, recycle plant waste and provide manure for the gardens. They live in a donated coop that’s inside a fenced-in enclosure and are part of an ongoing sustainability effort.

Backyard chickens are legal in Springfield and several other Illinois communities. They’ve become increasing popular as part of a local food movement among other reasons.

* Erickson…

Located on the heavily landscaped grounds surrounding the 159-year-old Italianate home is a penned-in area home to eight laying hens.

The chickens have come home to roost at 5th and Jackson streets in downtown Springfield as one part of the governor’s ongoing sustainability initiative. […]

The chickens live in a donated coop inside of a secure fenced-in enclosure near Fifth Street and eat a mix of chicken scratch and vegetation from the gardens.

The hens are a range of breeds, including Rhode Island Reds and Ameraucana, which lay eggs that can be pastel shades of brown, green or gray.

There was a huge and very loud party Wednesday night at the governor’s mansion. I can’t help but wonder how the chickens felt about that.

*** UPDATE *** Rep. Greg Harris sent along this photo of himself posing with the chickens. He said the party didn’t appear to have bothered them at all…

Caption?

       

44 Comments - Walker - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:29 am: Laying eggs in Springfield. - Enemy of the State - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:34 am: The chickens have really come home to roost. - VanillaMan - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:38 am: The party was held in order to raise chickenfeed for a candidate whose foul policies and myths over easily available golden eggs through the Quinncome Tax will only result in egg on his face and his goose cooked in November. - VanillaMan - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:39 am: When Rauner gets in, I hear there will be fox hunts. - lake county democrat - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:41 am: This calls for an appearance from the original Illinois (well, Chicago) Chickenman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcQfy1SavdQ - wordslinger - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:44 am: –A flock of eight clucking hens– Actually, it’s a “brood” of hens. A rafter of turkeys. A gaggle of geese. And, my favorite, a murder of crows. - Rich Miller - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:45 am: ===a murder of crows. === Which is also the name of a pretty good local Spfld band. - Grandson of Man - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:50 am: Rep. Harris on the income tax increase extension debate: “If only my Democratic colleagues were as calm and brave as this chicken.” - Wensicia - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:53 am: Greg Harris leads the committee meeting to consensus. - AFSCME Steward - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:53 am: “–A flock of eight clucking hens– Actually, it’s a “brood” of hens. A rafter of turkeys. A gaggle of geese. And, my favorite, a murder of crows.” A convict of Governors - AFSCME Steward - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:54 am: Rep. Harris introduces the next Governor of Illinois - Upon Further Review - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:57 am: Harris looks like a body double for Donald Pleasance or Telly Savalas in one of the James Bond films. Stavros Blofeld. - PublicServant - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:57 am: OK…Drinking game on “Quinncome Tax”. Who’s with me? - Grandson of Man - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 10:01 am: In complying with the sustainability movement, and after the hangover medicine has kicked in, Rep. Harris happily awaits his breakfast. - Sir Reel - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 10:15 am: Representative Harris confirms that the Governor’s Executive Mansion is, in fact, occupied for the first time this century. - Michelle Flaherty - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 10:17 am: Quinn, on average, lays an egg a day, too. - Nieva - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 10:19 am: Backyard chickens are great. No roosters allowed in most places due to their crowing. You would this it would be ok in Springfield with all the other strutting fowl. - Soccertease - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 10:19 am: “Wanna play a game of Chicken?” - AFSCME Steward - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 10:22 am: Bruce Rauner annmounces his pension fix: a chicken for every retiree - AFSCME Steward - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 10:25 am: Citing rising personnel costs, today Rep. Greg Harris annmounced a new alternative to extending the state income tax increase: replace state employees with livestock. - AFSCME Steward - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 10:26 am: Bruce Rauner annmounces his pension fix: a chicken for every retiree I guess it would be better if he announces - Judgment Day (on the road) - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 10:27 am: “Chickenman! Chickenman! He’s Everywhere! He’s Everywhere!” “Miss Helfinger……….” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chickenman_%28radio_series%29 - RNUG - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 10:35 am: Now if we could get a picture of the Krekelmobile parked in the mansion’s driveway … - Anonymous - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 10:59 am: unfertilized eggs (not killing a baby chicken) umm - A guy... - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 11:07 am: Who’s there? No one but us chickens. - A guy... - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 11:09 am: Why’d the chicken cross the Rotunda? Cause there’s no safe side to be on. - Rich Miller - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 11:10 am: Well, they blew up the chickens in Springfield last night And they blew up their coop, too Down on 4th Street they’re ready for a fight Gonna see what them chicken boys can do Now there’s trouble busin’ in from outta town And the AG can’t get no relief Gonna be a rumble on the mansion lawn And Dave Bourland’s hangin’ on by the skin of his teeth - dupage dan - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 11:17 am: Who’s watching the henhouse? - AFSCME Steward - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 11:19 am: Rep. Greg Harris visiting with his good friend State Sen. Michael Noland shortly after the Senator voted against Mike Madigan for state Democratic Party Chairman. - Rich Miller - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 11:23 am: AFSCME Steward takes a huge lead! - LCP45 - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 11:27 am: More word play: a congress of gorillas…enough said - Michelle Flaherty - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 11:39 am: AFSCME just organized the brood. Members are demanding backpay. - Oswego Willy - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 11:42 am: Harris: … This is why Speaker Madigan has an Apple Taste tester, and that old woman with the crooked finger in the black dress hasn’t been seen in Springfield since… - A guy... - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 11:50 am: Now if we can just bring in some pigs to round out our breakfast offerings. No….real pigs. - A guy... - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 12:10 pm: A birth control program with 100% effectiveness. - FormerParatrooper - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 12:21 pm: I don’t know why but now I am craving Chik-Fil-A - 47th Ward - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 12:31 pm: Conservatives were right: following his success passing same sex marriage, Rep. Harris introduced legislation to allow his constituent to marry her pet chicken. - Anonymous - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 12:47 pm: egg head poses with egg-layers. - Huh? - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 12:52 pm: What came first - The chicken or the egg? Couldn’t resist, sorry. - Prognosis Negative - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 1:41 pm: What’s the matter Colonel Sanders? Chicken? - can't help it - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 1:50 pm: “You see Samantha, this is where they send the staffers who try to leave without permission” said Representative Harris - Jake From Elwood - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 3:45 pm: Corruption among Illinois governors is so rampant that cages have been constructed on the governor’s mansion. - Arthur Andersen - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 3:57 pm: “You’re good for now, but you’re probably cooked if Rauner gets in.” - Judgment Day (on the road) - Friday, May 9, 14 @ 4:31 pm: “All right, we need extra eggs, because we’ve got nine - that’s right, NINE houses to egg. And we got to do it WEEKLY from now through November! So get busy” Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.