Urban chickens sounds like the name of a funky country-rock band, but should Manatee County commissioners be convinced, these critters could be coming to a back yard near you.

Chicken aficionados are trying to drum up support to end the ban in residential, unincorporated areas of the county.

The idea gained traction at this week’s commission meeting with a request for research into the matter. But chickens only, not noisy roosters.

Fresh eggs free of hormones, antibiotics and other additives are the primary reason. “Better living through chemistry” is the terrible way of a lot of food products nowadays, and terrific grounds for the all-natural and organic food trend.

Then, when those hens are finished laying eggs, well, you can see where this is going. A fry pan.

Some folks want chickens as pets, too. Seriously. Apparently, the critters are quite friendly.

You don’t need to be a farmer to raise these creatures, either. “Raising Chickens for Dummies” and “Building Chicken Coops for Dummies” will get you started.

Or visit www.backyardchickens.com, which includes this tasty tidbit: Three hens will produce two eggs a day on average (without help from roosters, which fertilize eggs). Hens can start laying eggs before turning one year old and can continue into their teens.

By the way, the website has more than 100,000 members, a testament to the growing popularity of backyard coups.

Plus, chickens are voracious bug eaters and yield poop valued as fertilizer, two more plusses.

One big minus: Key West, where roosters and chickens run amok. That can’t be allowed here.

The city of Sarasota lets residents keep a maximum of four hens. Fort Lauderdale is considering allowing eight chickens within the city.

Since we’re a bit bemused by the whole idea -- and not taking a stand one way or another -- let us end with some humor:

n Diner: Do you serve chicken here?

Waiter: Sit down, sir. We serve anyone.

n Diner: I can’t eat this chicken. Call the manager.

Waiter: It’s no use. He can’t eat it either.

Rising above the fray

Fortunately for Manatee County, the candidate selected to become the new director of Port Manatee remains committed to the job despite the dustup between Port Authority members.

Carlos Buqueras, the current director of business development at Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades, is highly regarded in the industry -- and by Manatee County commissioners, who also serve as the Port Authority.

Port Authority Chairman Larry Bustle took exception to Joe McClash’s contact with Buqueras this week, asserting his fellow board member engaged in “illegal, improper and unauthorized negotiations” after a contract had already been signed.

McClash rebuffed those remarks in vintage McClash style.

The dispute concerned Buqueras’ contract, which provided a higher amount of deferred compensation than the county’s two other top employees, the county administrator and attorney. McClash wanted parity while the signed contract provided more.

To Buqueras’ credit, this week he agreed to downsize his contract, which is paid by port tenants, not county property owners.

Kudos to Buqueras for not only staying above an embarrassing fray but for demonstrating a high degree of diplomacy in settling the issue.

New school board leaders

Congratulations to next year’s leaders on the Manatee County School Board, elected this week: chairman Harry Kinnan and vice chairwoman Karen Carpenter.

Outgoing chair Bob Gause put the past year’s budget negotiations in sharp perspective, calling the experience the “most acrimonious” as the board worked and worked to slash $14 million in spending.

Next year won’t be much if any easier, but hopefully the deep divisions will disappear.

As Carpenter stated, “I look forward to working with everyone. We have our work cut out for us.”

Indeed.