Patriots owner ruffling feathers in Brookline

BOSTON -- Bob Kraft is no stranger to taking the football field, but on his home turf he wants chickens.

The Kraft family has asked the town of Brookline for permission to house chickens at their Chestnut Hill home.

Kraft has been a long time resident of Brookline's Chestnut Hill area. Although Kraft is respected in the community, some are calling his latest move a personal “fowl”.

“They petitioned for a dozen birds to be held in an enclosed structure and that there would be another structure where the birds could go outside, but that would have cover on it as well,” said Dr. Alan Balsam of the Brookline Health Department.

The Brookline Health Department is reviewing all of the plans.

“I asked for a rodent control plan and finally because obviously chickens generate feces, feces attract pests, I wanted to know how they were going to compost the chicken so they've agreed to provide all that information,” said Balsam.

Roosters will not be allowed and the health department is taking neighbors’ concerns into consideration.

“I'm glad I don't live next to him, that's for sure,” said a Brookline resident.

In Brookline, chickens are nothing new.

“We do have three other properties in Brookline that do keep chickens,” said Balsam.

The Kraft family will find out in 10 days if they've scored a first down and whether or not they will be able to have their coop fly in.

The Krafts are no strangers to chickens. They have some at their home on the Cape. Kraft's grandchildren are fond of the birds.

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