When the possibility of chickens being legalized in the city limits was mentioned on the Northgate Park neighborhood e-mail network a few months ago, some residents responded with nostalgic tales from their days on grandma's farm, or with hopes for easier access to the delicacy known as the fresh egg.

Most, however, reacted with a barrage of concerns that ranged from fear of avian flu to worries that the streets would be strewn with the feathery remains of chicks that had been slaughtered by neighborhood dogs.

A bit dramatic, perhaps, but a concern nonetheless.

Those who support the legalization of hens (not roosters, mind you, just hens) argue that chickens pose no more threat than dogs to our general well-being, and they come with some added bonuses: fresh eggs, incredibly rich fertilizer, companionship -- and entertainment.

Those who oppose chickens can be just as loud, but as of now are not nearly as organized as supporters.

HENS (Healthy Egg Neighborhood Supporters) banded together as an affiliate of SEEDS (South Eastern Efforts Developing Sustainable Spaces) earlier this year in hopes of persuading the Joint City/County Planning Committee to consider relaxing the current law banning poultry of all sorts in most of the city. (A few low-density areas are not covered, but most of that land includes subdivisions with chicken bans of their own.)

If the committee approves of the HENS requests, it will ask the planning department to draft changes that the official governing bodies can vote on; the planning commission must approve the changes, which must then be accepted by the city council and county commission. If they don't, HENS can still go forward but the planning department would assist them rather than take over.

HENS will go before the planning panel on Wednesday, armed with months of research its members have pulled together on why Durham, the only "empty nest" city in the state, should allow hens like every other major city does.

Raleigh has very lax regulations and allows chickens unless they violate health or nuisance standards. Chapel Hill permits up to 20 hens and only requires that the coop be 30 feet away from neighbors' properties.

The HENS group, a few dozen strong, includes some people who have illegal coops now, others who were outed by neighbors and forced to get rid of their chicks on threat of a $200-per-day fine, and those simply curious about the whole idea of city chickens.

They have met roughly every two weeks, constantly updating one another with their findings on Durham officials' concerns -- mainly noise complaints from animal control and sanitation issues from the planning department.

Recently, they organized a bio-diesel bus ride for a "Tour d'Coop" of Raleigh, got a booth with chickens for local Earth Day festivities, and parked themselves at the Eno Festival to gather signatures for their petition and pass out brochures touting the benefits of backyard chicks. They've printed cotton T-shirts in baby-chick yellow promoting the cause, available for sale at local restaurants and shops.

The group has secured more than 1,000 signatures on a petition. When they go before the planning committee, they plan to ask for a policy that still forbids roosters, sets a cap on the number of hens per property, and requires a permanent coop and that the hens be confined within the property at all times.

Kavanah Ramsier, youth group director for SEEDS, initiated the petition and would love to have hens, and their fertilizer, at the SEEDS garden located downtown. "As much as we can, we need to look within our own communities to feed and support each other using the resources available to us," she said. "The more complete our local food systems are, the more sustainble we are."

HENS has an uphill battle before them to persuade committee members even to consider changing the current laws. As of this week, most members of the panel said they were skeptical and needed more information. City councilwoman Diane Catotti said she's keeping an open mind but isn't sure there will be enough votes to change the policy. County commissioners Becky Heron and Lewis Cheek also expressed concern with health and safety issues.

"I think I need to hear how the chickens or hens will be cared for," Heron said.

With similar battles being waged in Cary and Sanford, the chicken movement is emerging as a controversial topic as the lines between county and city blur. Durham appears to have a strong contingent of supporters that stretches across different socioeconomic backgrounds. For some, having poultry in their neighborhoods simply makes them uncomfortable, regardless of the research. The chicken debate is one that ruffles feathers, for sure.

The truth about chicken coops

When it comes down to it, responsible coop maintenance will take care of most anxieties.

WORRY: You need roosters to get eggs, and roosters are noisy.

TRUTH: Hens lay eggs regardless of a male counterpart (the eggs are simply unfertilized), and though they do cluck a bit while laying it is usually not very loud. Some call it a chicken purr.

WORRY: Chickens carry diseases such as avian flu.

TRUTH: The strain of avian flu infectious to humans has not been found here. Chickens carrying avian flu are rare and can only contract the disease from other infected chickens. Human-to-human infection is very rare.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, "there is no need at present to remove a flock of chickens because of concerns regarding avian influenza." For more information on this issue, visit www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/qa.htm

Wear gloves while handling the chickens and fresh eggs. And wash your hands.

WORRY: Chickens make easy targets for other animals.

TRUTH: Yes, chickens have many predators and might even attract animals like foxes or stray dogs, but a well-constructed coop should be enough protection. People who let their hens roam face a greater risk. Hawks enjoy chicken nuggets.

WORRY: Chicken coops smell!

TRUTH: Like any other animal dwelling, chicken coops need proper care, which includes cleaning out manure and replacing stale bedding. A well cared-for coop shouldn't bother the olfactory senses of most neighbors.

WORRY: Legalizing hens means people will slaughter meat in their backyards.

TRUTH: The legalization of hens would not legalize the slaughtering of hens in the city limits, and if people were to do so there would be serious consequences.

WORRY: Chickens don't contribute to urban environments.

TRUTH: Hen supporters say chickens promote sustainability by providing nitrogen-rich fertilizer for backyard gardens. Chickens also eat pests such as ticks and grubs.

WORRY: Chickens need a lot of space, and many city yards are just too small.

TRUTH: Chicken owners say hens really need very little space to live a healthy, happy life -- only 4 square feet is recommended per hen.