Home owners insurance problems

Has anyone had any problems with their home owners insurance concerning the number of chickens you keep? I have 18 layers, the insurance agent is saying that 1 maybe 2 is exceptable. This is with a new ins co. I can get rid of the birds easy enough, but i don't think I should have to. With the growing amount of backyard birds i was surprised to here this. Thanks Walt

I just had to get new homeowners insurance last month. When I gave them my acreage they asked only if I had cows and/or horses. I have neither, but I do have goats so I was told I needed to add farm insurance...it ended up being about $200 cheaper per year than my last policy (a different company).

Asked if any of my dogs were Pits, Akitas or Chows (no), and said the farm insurance was necessary in case any of the goats got out and caused an accident.

Never asked how many chickens I have.

That sounds strange.

I never knew they asked.We got out current one through our car insurance.Last one was Allstate.Neither asked about animals(usually pits) or trampolines which is common around here.

I would rather go with another company than one that makes me get rid of animals.I would ask for the WRITTEN company info on this,not just take the agents word. If it is true I would find another company.

Gosh, we have never been asked about animals. It seems like keeping track of chickens is kinda silly as far as being an insurance risk

Wow.... you guys really do live in the land of litigation don't you! I live on acreage over here in Aus and can choose to have farm or standard cover. The farm policy is cheaper... and even then I get $2,500 of insurance on my livestock without even having to tell them what I have!!

Bought the 5 acres I have now from the estate of my best friend that died. When I changed the insurance over to me for a farm policy to cover house, barn (3/2 -2000sf, 3 stall) and 6 horses I was told if would be around $6700.00 for the year and I also needed to have a $1,000,000 rider policy for liability if I took my horses to any activities or had company come to the farm.(more money)

So I had nothing to loose started shopping around for a new policy. Had a lot of quotes that were a lot higher and some just said no to any animals. So I did something I never thought I would ever do. Was online and did one of those request for insurance quotes, got some info back. An Allstate insurance co. out of Miami contacted me, worked up a policy on house and barn, was not worried about any livestock. Did ask what breeds of dog ( no pitbulls) was upfront about the horses. Told me horses were ok. The best thing is my insurance is only about $1,400.00 a year now. That is for everything including the hurricane and wind damage that is needed here in Florida. I don't need flood insurance because I live on the highest point in Florida @ 320' above sea level. If it floods around me I will be part of the New Fl.Keys. lol

BTW, I had an local Allstate agent for my other house and trucks and they were mush higher. Asked the agent in Miami how come they were cheaper and she said because of the volume of policys they do, # 1 in the country in sales , so they can sale with big discount. I was telling some coworkers about my policy, and some of them changed and got great deals too. The new governor of Florida signed a bill de-regulating homeowners insurance in Florida, so everyones really jumped. Some who have paid off homes droped insurance, retired on fixed income.

Sorry, let me get off my soapbox....

Maye

We got our insurance through the Farm Bureau. Don't remember exactly what it is, but it's reasonable. Curious how the number of chickens you have can affect the rate? What could possibly be the liability? Insurance companies are funny. My MIL had her homeowners insurance cancelled because "she was too far from the fire department". The insurance inspector came up and noted a fire station about ten miles from her house. Since he did not see another, he wrongly assumed that was the fire department that would respond to an emergency at her house. If the inspector had driven a quarter of a mile past her house the other direction, he would have found the fire station that actually covered her district. When she called the insurance company to tell them, she was told that their inspector couldn't possibly be wrong, and her insurance was cancelled. Turned out she was the winner on this. She found another insurance carrier with lower rates and better coverage. It pays to shop around.

Quote:
x2, and our agent is our brother-in-law and knows what we have, never said a word about all of our animals or having to have farm insurance, and PLEASE don't tell him we should have farm insurance lol

Quote:
The liability would be if you sold tabe eggs and someone got sick..... I have Farm Bureau also. I have a farm policy and have uped my limits to a million dollars and have my horse insured too. It's a bit higher than a regular home owners policy, but well worth it.

Quote:
Maye, if you have 5 acres, don't you qualify for agricultural insurance?
Also, in Florida, it's a "ride at your own risk" state. If anyone gets injured by a horse on your property, they can't sue you. My barn goes one step further and has you sign a waiver, although it's not needed.
So you don't need to insure your horses. It's not a liability.
I do not think you have to insure barns or animal shelters either because it's agricultural.
Don't let these A-hole$ pull the wool over your eyes. Get on the computer and search for what you need to insure in Florida.