How to Convince my Neighbors??

Ok so I'm really bummed out right now. I live in a suburb in California and my husband and I have been excited to get chickens. Well we did our first big step yesterday and got ourselves a lightly used small chicken coup. Yay!!!! Or so I thought. I live in an association which does allow chickens but I need to get signatures from neighbors, just 2. So I felt it fair to let the neighbors closest to my yard know. I live on the corner so I only have 2 neighbors that touch my yard.

They basically said no, but didn't want that to hinder our relationship. I am bummed but I also don't want to be a bad neighbor and go around them, I want them to be on board. They never asked how many or any other questions, they just said their concerns which are allergies, noise, and odors. Which I understand but upon research the noise is not anything like a baking dog would be, we will not have roosters and I only want 3-4 chickens. Allergies, well from what it seems, that comes with only contact with my chickens, so we lose the possibility of play dates, I'm not concered. Smell, I've done a ton of research before hand and know all that can be limited to hygiene and other tricks. Knowing all this, I'm not sure how to respond, how do I give them all the info politely? I'm even willing to compromise to only 2 chickens. Is there anything I'm missing that I should go over with my neighbor? Please help fellow chickeneers.

Give them all the info you can, but there's a very real possibility that they still say no. People move into HOAs so they can live a specific way - if you don't want to live that way, finding a new place to live may be your best option.

They basically said no, but didn't want that to hinder your relationships with each other...so that means they'll sign for your chickens? If so, then it's up to you to keep your small flock unseen, unheard, and unsmelled. I don't see a problem with that.

Ask them to approve on a trial basis of 2-3 months, and if things go okay during that time, they will agree to a more permanent OK. During that time be sure to stay in touch, invite them over to visit and see your set-up, and regularly ask if they are having any issues with your birds. If there is anything that bothers them, be sure to correct it if you can.

Like many of the comments above mine, give them information because in my experience they're more likely to make a rational decision if they have the facts. Inform them that chickens are not as smelly if they're well kept, that hens can be very quiet and maybe even offer them a few free eggs. Best of luck and I hope that you get your chickens!