I've had chickens for almost 3 years now, and we are up to 16 after starting with 6. Yesterday, I received this message from a neighbor:
"I am trying to work and your chickens are making quite a bit of noise; they are disturbing me. The neighborhood covenants clearly say we are not allowed to keep livestock. I would appreciate it if you would get rid of these chickens. We are forced to listen to them whenever we are outside our home gardening or just enjoying our property or in our home with open windows. It is very unfair especially since we all are not permitted to keep any livestock according to our neighborhood covenants. Please stop keeping chickens and comply with the neighborhood covenants. Thank you."
We have lived here for 6 1/2 years, and only saw the covenants for the first time a few months ago when the lady who heads up the neighborhood watch emailed them to everyone at the request of another neighbor, most likely the one who is now complaining. I don't think my chickens are overly noisy, certainly no worse than a barking dog, and their noise is not constant as she implies.
Do any of you have any suggestions of how I can somehow make them be quieter? I could move them to the other side of the yard, further from the complainer, but I'm not sure how much good that would do. My kids were bawling last night when I told them, as our chickens are beloved pets more than they are livestock. We would rather move than rehome our chickens, but of course we can't do that overnight. I am just feeling sick over this. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
"I am trying to work and your chickens are making quite a bit of noise; they are disturbing me. The neighborhood covenants clearly say we are not allowed to keep livestock. I would appreciate it if you would get rid of these chickens. We are forced to listen to them whenever we are outside our home gardening or just enjoying our property or in our home with open windows. It is very unfair especially since we all are not permitted to keep any livestock according to our neighborhood covenants. Please stop keeping chickens and comply with the neighborhood covenants. Thank you."
We have lived here for 6 1/2 years, and only saw the covenants for the first time a few months ago when the lady who heads up the neighborhood watch emailed them to everyone at the request of another neighbor, most likely the one who is now complaining. I don't think my chickens are overly noisy, certainly no worse than a barking dog, and their noise is not constant as she implies.
Do any of you have any suggestions of how I can somehow make them be quieter? I could move them to the other side of the yard, further from the complainer, but I'm not sure how much good that would do. My kids were bawling last night when I told them, as our chickens are beloved pets more than they are livestock. We would rather move than rehome our chickens, but of course we can't do that overnight. I am just feeling sick over this. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!