CLAYTON — While Clayton may be ahead of many trends, particularly those ecological, some residents here aren't interested in being in front of one movement — home-grown chickens.

In response, city officials are considering limiting the birds.

"Up until recently, it hasn't been an issue, but we have seen a greater number of chickens coming into Clayton," Catherine Powers, city planning director, said last week at a meeting of the Board of Aldermen.

She said chickens are being raised in all of the city's three wards but didn't have an estimate of either the number of homes with chickens, or an overall number of fowl.

Backyard chickens have become popular here and across the country, for both the quality of the eggs and for environmental reasons.

While some in Clayton pioneered the trend years ago, it's now more widespread, and chicks are making their homes in the backyards of such tony streets as Tuscany Park, Biltmore Avenue and Southmoor Drive.

Powers said complaints had been made about two properties regarding "the noise, the unsightliness, the pens and the underlying sanitation."

Mayor Linda Goldstein said that no action on chickens would be taken without public hearings.

Clayton's ordinance requires only that the chickens be maintained in a sanitary way and not be used for commercial purposes.

Goldstein said Clayton officials would check ordinances in other municipalities, particularly Maplewood's, which limits residents to raising six chickens or ducks, requires permits and forbids slaughter.

Virginia Frank, who lives in the Davis Place subdivision, hopes for some changes. She said her neighbors raise chickens.

"It sounds like I'm mean, and I'm not against chickens," she said after the aldermanic meeting. "It's just that ... we live close together and the chickens squawk all the time."

Frank said that she can't have guests over to sit in the backyard.

"You can't talk over the squawking, and there are flies all over the place," she said. "I didn't move to Clayton for this."

The chickens "really need to be on a farm," she added.

On the other side of the issue is Clayton resident Stan Braude, a biology professor at Washington University.

Braude said after the meeting that he hoped the city would encourage more residents to have a few hens in their backyards.

Braude and his wife, Nancy Berg — also a Washington U. professor — and their children, Elizabeth, 9, and David, 12, now have a dog and rabbit.

"We are interested in the hens as pets, for the eggs, but especially because they eat so many bugs and are good for the garden," Braude said. "We are so proud of our city for being the most environmentally progressive city in Missouri," Braude added, citing Clayton's recycling program, alternative fuel vehicles, green building and plans for rain gardens to reduce water pollution.

"Our existing chicken ordinance is in line with our environmental leadership, and reversing it would be an embarrassing step backwards for Clayton," Braude said. "Cities across the country are changing their laws to allow hens because of the real environmental benefits."

The benefits, he said, include healthier eggs with less risk of salmonella than factory-farmed eggs; elimination of carbon emissions in transporting eggs, and a reduction in pesticide and fertilizers.

Several Clayton residents who raise chickens said in interviews that they have them for the eggs. None raised them for slaughter.

Joy Stinger, an artist who lives in the Old Town neighborhood, said she began raising chickens 23 years ago after seeing a story in Martha Stewart's magazine about the pastel-colored eggs produced by Araucana chickens.

Stinger has about 30 chickens, about 50 exotic birds, two cats, two dogs, two pet bunnies and some bees.

About 14 months ago, Dr. Jeffrey Peipert said he came home "with four little baby chicks" for his daughter, Leah.

Leah, now 11, said: "I had just come home from camp, and when I saw them I jumped up and down and started squealing."

The Peiperts now have five hens, which they keep in a tidy coop. "Leah would like to have a lot more, but I don't think that would go over with the neighbors," Peipert said.

The family also likes the eggs.

"I think they taste better," Peipert said.

Like Stinger, Anne Martin is both an artist and a longtime chicken devotee. Martin creates sculptures of chickens.

She has three hens and a rooster at her home in Tuscany Park.

"I've had chickens or ducks for 53 years," said Martin, 57. "As pets, they're wonderful, sweet and very clean. They're cantankerous and totally entertaining."

The six-member Clayton Board of Aldermen is now getting educated on the issue.

Alderman Judy Goodman said, "I like the idea of chickens and I like the idea of composting, but we have to see how it all weighs out."

Goodman said her ward has a rat problem that can be aggravated by droppings by dogs and other animals or fowl.

Alderman Michelle Harris said she was looking forward to a citywide discussion on the matter. "The trend is definitely toward more chickens," she said. "I've heard about it constantly on NPR."

Alderman Alex Berger III said restrictions were needed and that the city needed more enforcement powers.

He said the current situation "is not very pleasant for the neighbors" of those with chickens.