COEUR d'ALENE - Out with the new, in with the old.

The city of Coeur d'Alene is considering going back to its old unlimited rule when it comes to the number of chickens a city dweller can raise.

Right now the maximum is three, but that doesn't seem to be enough.

"If there weren't any complaints," said Ron Edinger, city councilman and General Services Committee member, "let the chickies be chickies."

So next week, chicken owners might be allowed to own as many chickens as they want so long as the hens are kept cooped, and don't disturb neighbors with noise or odor complaints.

Just like before.

"It wasn't broken," said Sherry Bullard, a city resident thinking of raising her own chickens, on the old rule that allowed for an unlimited supply. "I can't see any reason to change it now."

Last month, the city capped the number of chickens residents could own as part of updating and rewriting a number of its animal ordinances. The city wanted to allow chickens, as they had never heard complaints on them even as more people began raising them as a healthier, more economically friendly way to provide food, but attached the maximum limit arbitrarily, said Mike Kennedy, city councilman.

That ruffled feathers, and the pro-chicken community said the harvest from three cluckers wouldn't be worth it.

They're quiet, hygienic, productive pets that never caused problems before the city brought up the ordinance change, they said, especially compared to dogs and cats.

"It's a novel thing," said Mary White, who owns 30 chickens in downtown Coeur d'Alene and said she would consider moving from town should the limit of three stand. "People have no problem throwing four dogs in the backyard and letting them bark all day."

Monday, the General Services Committee revisited the recently changed ordinance, and recommended the City Council drop the limit completely during its next meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 20, in the Community Room of the Coeur d'Alene Public Library.

But the committee said those who are selling dozens of eggs from their flocks should get a home occupancy permit just to be safe. Chickens can live up to 15 years but their egg laying days usually run for only five or six years.

"I consider them pets," said Jim Bolognese. "It's funny, you do get attached to them."