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*** UPDATED x1 with photo *** Chicken man?

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* 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?

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:28 am

Comments

  1. Laying eggs in Springfield.

    Comment by Walker Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:29 am

  2. The chickens have really come home to roost.

    Comment by Enemy of the State Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:34 am

  3. 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.

    Comment by VanillaMan Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:38 am

  4. When Rauner gets in, I hear there will be fox hunts.

    Comment by VanillaMan Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:39 am

  5. This calls for an appearance from the original Illinois (well, Chicago) Chickenman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcQfy1SavdQ

    Comment by lake county democrat Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:41 am

  6. –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.

    Comment by wordslinger Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:44 am

  7. ===a murder of crows. ===

    Which is also the name of a pretty good local Spfld band.

    Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:45 am

  8. Rep. Harris on the income tax increase extension debate: “If only my Democratic colleagues were as calm and brave as this chicken.”

    Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:50 am

  9. Greg Harris leads the committee meeting to consensus.

    Comment by Wensicia Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:53 am

  10. “–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

    Comment by AFSCME Steward Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:53 am

  11. Rep. Harris introduces the next Governor of Illinois

    Comment by AFSCME Steward Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:54 am

  12. Harris looks like a body double for Donald Pleasance or Telly Savalas in one of the James Bond films. Stavros Blofeld.

    Comment by Upon Further Review Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:57 am

  13. OK…Drinking game on “Quinncome Tax”. Who’s with me?

    Comment by PublicServant Friday, May 9, 14 @ 9:57 am

  14. In complying with the sustainability movement, and after the hangover medicine has kicked in, Rep. Harris happily awaits his breakfast.

    Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, May 9, 14 @ 10:01 am

  15. Representative Harris confirms that the Governor’s Executive Mansion is, in fact, occupied for the first time this century.

    Comment by Sir Reel Friday, May 9, 14 @ 10:15 am

  16. Quinn, on average, lays an egg a day, too.

    Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, May 9, 14 @ 10:17 am

  17. 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.

    Comment by Nieva Friday, May 9, 14 @ 10:19 am

  18. “Wanna play a game of Chicken?”

    Comment by Soccertease Friday, May 9, 14 @ 10:19 am

  19. Bruce Rauner annmounces his pension fix: a chicken for every retiree

    Comment by AFSCME Steward Friday, May 9, 14 @ 10:22 am

  20. Citing rising personnel costs, today Rep. Greg Harris annmounced a new alternative to extending the state income tax increase: replace state employees with livestock.

    Comment by AFSCME Steward Friday, May 9, 14 @ 10:25 am

  21. Bruce Rauner annmounces his pension fix: a chicken for every retiree

    I guess it would be better if he announces

    Comment by AFSCME Steward Friday, May 9, 14 @ 10:26 am

  22. “Chickenman! Chickenman! He’s Everywhere! He’s Everywhere!”

    “Miss Helfinger……….”

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chickenman_%28radio_series%29

    Comment by Judgment Day (on the road) Friday, May 9, 14 @ 10:27 am

  23. Now if we could get a picture of the Krekelmobile parked in the mansion’s driveway …

    Comment by RNUG Friday, May 9, 14 @ 10:35 am

  24. unfertilized eggs (not killing a baby chicken) umm

    Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 9, 14 @ 10:59 am

  25. Who’s there?
    No one but us chickens.

    Comment by A guy... Friday, May 9, 14 @ 11:07 am

  26. Why’d the chicken cross the Rotunda?

    Cause there’s no safe side to be on.

    Comment by A guy... Friday, May 9, 14 @ 11:09 am

  27. 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

    Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 9, 14 @ 11:10 am

  28. Who’s watching the henhouse?

    Comment by dupage dan Friday, May 9, 14 @ 11:17 am

  29. 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.

    Comment by AFSCME Steward Friday, May 9, 14 @ 11:19 am

  30. AFSCME Steward takes a huge lead!

    Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 9, 14 @ 11:23 am

  31. More word play: a congress of gorillas…enough said

    Comment by LCP45 Friday, May 9, 14 @ 11:27 am

  32. AFSCME just organized the brood. Members are demanding backpay.

    Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, May 9, 14 @ 11:39 am

  33. 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…

    Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 9, 14 @ 11:42 am

  34. Now if we can just bring in some pigs to round out our breakfast offerings. No….real pigs.

    Comment by A guy... Friday, May 9, 14 @ 11:50 am

  35. A birth control program with 100% effectiveness.

    Comment by A guy... Friday, May 9, 14 @ 12:10 pm

  36. I don’t know why but now I am craving Chik-Fil-A

    Comment by FormerParatrooper Friday, May 9, 14 @ 12:21 pm

  37. Conservatives were right: following his success passing same sex marriage, Rep. Harris introduced legislation to allow his constituent to marry her pet chicken.

    Comment by 47th Ward Friday, May 9, 14 @ 12:31 pm

  38. egg head poses with egg-layers.

    Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 9, 14 @ 12:47 pm

  39. What came first - The chicken or the egg?

    Couldn’t resist, sorry.

    Comment by Huh? Friday, May 9, 14 @ 12:52 pm

  40. What’s the matter Colonel Sanders? Chicken?

    Comment by Prognosis Negative Friday, May 9, 14 @ 1:41 pm

  41. “You see Samantha, this is where they send the staffers who try to leave without permission” said Representative Harris

    Comment by can't help it Friday, May 9, 14 @ 1:50 pm

  42. Corruption among Illinois governors is so rampant that cages have been constructed on the governor’s mansion.

    Comment by Jake From Elwood Friday, May 9, 14 @ 3:45 pm

  43. “You’re good for now, but you’re probably cooked if Rauner gets in.”

    Comment by Arthur Andersen Friday, May 9, 14 @ 3:57 pm

  44. “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”

    Comment by Judgment Day (on the road) Friday, May 9, 14 @ 4:31 pm

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