2018 Newbie Chat!

[Anna Ranieri]

First off I would like to offer my condolences to the loss of your father.

I know you said moving at this time was not an option but maybe in the future perhaps? If so would the sanctuary be willing to release the birds back to you if that time comes? I just know from how you communicate on here how much you absolutely adore your birds and would hate for you to lose them permanently.

I think you have mentioned before that other people have also broken the covenant by having poultry. Is there anything you can do with that information? Singling you out just seems so unfair. Ugh I'm just sending you lots of hugs I wish there was something more we could do to help.

Thank you so much hun
I did mention about the others and they just said if I put in a complaint they'll go after them too but I'm not prepared to do that and refused to say who they are would not say where they live.
I did discuss possibly moving in the future but we realise my grandson is settled here and we'd have to upheave him from his nursery, playgroup and friends his made plus dispite all this trouble we're having this is a very nice and safe area, with some of the top schools in Suffolk and we wouldn't be able to afford anywhere else like this - it is a great place to bring up children and I don't want my grandkids to have less than what they can have here even though all this is hard for me I need to take them and their future into account. My parents owning this property is the only reason we are here because they charge us less rent than what they could get for it.
I haven't asked if we could have them back because it's doubtful we would move for the reasons above. Haven't yet asked if they will allow me pictures and videos but they have a Facebook so I'm hoping they will post pics and videos on there for me.
I wish I had the money to fight them in court but they are a very big company who owns a large amount of properties across Britain and have top lawyers, we are of very low income and I just wouldn't be able to raise the kind of money it would take to fight them.
I thank you with all my heart for your kind words, although we've never met I've come to care very much for you and others on here and am not thinking of leaving and am interested to see how you all get on with your flocks as time goes on. I just need to see how it will be when they've gone.
I really appreciate your support, thank you greatly

 

[Cbarr00]

Thank you so much hun
I did mention about the others and they just said if I put in a complaint they'll go after them too but I'm not prepared to do that and refused to say who they are would not say where they live.
I did discuss possibly moving in the future but we realise my grandson is settled here and we'd have to upheave him from his nursery, playgroup and friends his made plus dispite all this trouble we're having this is a very nice and safe area, with some of the top schools in Suffolk and we wouldn't be able to afford anywhere else like this - it is a great place to bring up children and I don't want my grandkids to have less than what they can have here even though all this is hard for me I need to take them and their future into account. My parents owning this property is the only reason we are here because they charge us less rent than what they could get for it.
I haven't asked if we could have them back because it's doubtful we would move for the reasons above. Haven't yet asked if they will allow me pictures and videos but they have a Facebook so I'm hoping they will post pics and videos on there for me.
I wish I had the money to fight them in court but they are a very big company who owns a large amount of properties across Britain and have top lawyers, we are of very low income and I just wouldn't be able to raise the kind of money it would take to fight them.
I thank you with all my heart for your kind words, although we've never met I've come to care very much for you and others on here and am not thinking of leaving and am interested to see how you all get on with your flocks as time goes on. I just need to see how it will be when they've gone.
I really appreciate your support, thank you greatly

I understand that completely. I wouldn't give names and have everyone lose their flocks as well. It would be a lose lose all around.

My husband would move out further into the middle of nowhere if we could afford it just so he could have his own little farm. He wants ducks and cows and goats and pigs so bad. We homeschool our kids so it wouldn't impact their social life lol.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

I understand that completely. I wouldn't give names and have everyone lose their flocks as well. It would be a lose lose all around.

My husband would move out further into the middle of nowhere if we could afford it just so he could have his own little farm. He wants ducks and cows and goats and pigs so bad. We homeschool our kids so it wouldn't impact their social life lol.

Awwww sounds wonderful, would be lovely if he gets to have his dream

 

[PNW_Peepers]

Well we had the meeting with the rep on Tuesday he told us there has been further noise complaints only they are by different residents than originally, he said that because it had gone quiet for a while they had decided to turn a blind eye to my having my birds but because recently there has been more residence complaining they have no choice but to put together a legal board to take us to court over the matter. I explained that my being relatively new to poultry I did not know that ducks are much more vocal as they approach breeding season and will be throughout breeding season and I actually understand the complaints because the girls are incessantly quacking from early morning and throughout the day as is usual for ducks to do this so close to breeding season. He also said the earlier complaint claiming my birds are attracting vermin to the area still stands even though I pointed out that not only are the no vermin in my garden but also that if it were that my birds are attracting vermin then why is the vermin going into the neighbours gardens and not mine, surely if vermin were being attracted by my birds they would be in my garden and burrowing into the run but there is none. Many residence feed wild birds so perhaps if there are vermin in their gardens, it is due to the food they are leaving out for wild birds and hedgehogs. I asked him if he'd like to meet them, he said yes and when I opened the back door all except for Lilah and Jellybean (who were laying at the time) came over to greet him, he was very taken with them and Pedro snuck indoors while we were chatting which made him smile and he told me his neighbour has chickens and he has other neighbours ducks come into his garden (he lives else where) I picked her up for a cuddle and he told me he has never seen anyone pick one up before, I told him this is because mine are pets and theres are commodities (where he lives there are many farmers and farmland)and I took her over to him and he stroked her and said they certainly are very beautiful and that he can understsnd my heartache but that the covernent has been broken and because of the complaints they have to take action. He also explained that because my parents own the property it will be they who get taken to court not me. I told him my dad (at the time) was very seriously ill in hospital and that neither he nor my mother are in a position to be able to handle or withstand legal action and asked him if I agree to rehome them would they stop the legal proceedings, he said under these circumstances they would. I also explained that due to our low income and neither of us drive and my family not in the position to help I would need time to gather enough money and to arrange transport as the place we will take them to is 270 miles ( 540 miles total there and back) away, so they have given me until next month to rehome them otherwise court proceedings will go ahead. I pointed out that although chickens can be vocal at times they are not excessively noisy and is the ducks that are and have asked if they would be willing for me to rehome the ducks and let me keep my chickens. He said they can not give permission for me to keep the chickens because it breaks the covernent but that he will put this to his boss and see if they will accept the rehoming of my ducks and turn a blind eye to my having the chickens but that he doubts they will but will put it to them anyway as there is no harm in trying. We are now at waiting to see what they decide. My daughter has a friend willing to drive us but his car isn't up to doing such mileage so we had thought to borrow my mothers car but sadly my dad died at 4:30 this afternoon (British time) so I am unable to approach my mother about the use of her car to transport them to the sanctuary so am at present trying to find a way to get them there. My dad and I were not close and didnt really get on and although I am sad for him having suffered as he had been these last couple of months and I am sorry for my mum's loss I am not in a place of grieving but I am absolutely devastated at the loss of my birds and am praying my heart out that I get to keep my chickens but the feeling I get is doubtful. Many may not be able to understand my devastation but my birds (especially my chickens) are and have been a great source of joy for me and the loss of them will have a major impact on me and my life. I had considered moving but my daughter is only a few months away from giving birth and I need and want to take she, my grandson and the birth of my grandaughter into account and both she and my grandson and soon to come grandaughter need me and would be unfair of me to put them through an upheaval and I have to put them first. My daughter is very upset about the loss of our birds and my grandson will be too but we haven't yet told him as we are waiting to see if we get to keep our chickens before we tell him.
I thank every one of you for all your help and advice throughout my time at having my beauties and my birds have benifitted greatly from all the great advice you have given me.
For me there is no silver lining however I am thankful that the sanctuary we have found is a great place where they will be well taken care of very much loved and appreciated and given a pampered life very similar to what we give them here. I wish it were closer to us because the distance is such, that it is doubtful I will be able to visit them and as heartbroken as I am it will be a very long time before I heal from this if I ever do.
If the result is that I have to relinquish all 8 of my birds, I don't know if I will be able to continue as a member on here as it may be too difficult for me given my loss and the memories but I will see how it goes when the time comes.

Anna I’m so sorry for this devastating loss. I’m hoping that you will be able to at the very least keep your chickens. I’ll keep you in my prayers.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Anna I’m so sorry for this devastating loss. I’m hoping that you will be able to at the very least keep your chickens. I’ll keep you in my prayers.

Thank you so much, your prayers are very much appreciated and very much needed too, thank you so much for your kindness.

 

[llombardo]

Sorry about your dad.

I hsvenr read everything because I'm getting ready to cook. I wish I lived near you because I would talks all with allowed visitation.

Are these guys allowed where your mom lives? Maybe you guys can switch houses of kerp them there or sell the home your in and move somewhere they are allowed?

If they are allowed where your mom lives, that may be a good thing. It will keep mom busy and occupied

 

[No More Empty Nest]

Oh no! That's just terrible! I hope and pray you get to keep your chickens. I don't know what else to say. I have no words it just saddens me so.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Sorry about your dad.

I hsvenr read everything because I'm getting ready to cook. I wish I lived near you because I would talks all with allowed visitation.

Are these guys allowed where your mom lives? Maybe you guys can switch houses of kerp them there or sell the home your in and move somewhere they are allowed?

If they are allowed where your mom lives, that may be a good thing. It will keep mom busy and occupied

Thank you hun.
At the start of this situation my father had suggested we move them to their home as he really liked my birds but unfortunately their home is in the same area as me so is under the same covernent. At the beginning I had asked my dad repeatedly if there is anything to say I would not be permitted to have my birds and he insisted there wasn't, I still asked him to check over the deeds etc but he was adamant there was nothing and didn't check, my dad usually was very astute and wouldn't usually have made such an error, and I can only assume his bad health was affecting his train of thought.
My mother is stricken with grief, she and my father were together for over 60 years and is not in a place to discuss anything and does not want to be approached about my bird situation at all so it is highly unlikely she'd be willing to sell and rebuy. My daughter rightly so pointed out to me that having had a time limit enforced on us the company would have the right to apply for our birds to be seized and if this were to happen we would have no control over where they'd end up and reminded me we need to keep their safety and wellbeing forefront in our minds over everything. I have already planned to contact the company to inform them of my father's demise and will try at asking for an extension and if they grant us this maybe we will have time to rethink the situation.
I too wish we lived near each other, I know if you had my birds I would never have a worry, and know they would have been so happy being with you and your flock and would have given me great peace of mind but the situation is what it is and I can only do the best I can do with what is avsilable to us here.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Oh no! That's just terrible! I hope and pray you get to keep your chickens. I don't know what else to say. I have no words it just saddens me so.

Thank you for you support and prayers. You all are such kind and wonderful people on this thread. Many people don't understand "What all the fuss is about - these are just birds after all" but as you know they are more than just birds and you also know the great joy these beauties can bring. I can only wait and hope the company accept my offer to relinquish my ducks and keep my chickens and it my hope that Jesus will lead them to this decision but sadly for us we do not think He is going to. Such situations try my faith greatly and both my daughter and I try our best to keep our eyes and hearts on the fact that God knows and sees everything and knows what lays ahead in the future and can only trust He is allowing this situation for a good reason but I am struggling to keep myself at remembering and believing this, especially as there are many in this area who have gotten away with having chickens and there is one I know of who also had complaints but after the initial complaint were left alone so the company has turned a blind eye to them having their birds. The rep for the company told us they too decided to sit on it when all went quiet for the months it did but because the noise complaints have escalated they have no option but to act on them. Seems evident to me that God does not want us to have these birds and if they come back with a no to us keeping our chickens we will have to accept it is His will for us not to. I keep asking Him what harm will it do anyone for me to have my four chickens but I do not know of any answer to this. At the very least this situation is very sad. I cry so much but I have put this into His hands and can only hope He will grant me my request but both myself and my daughter highly doubt He will.

 

[CannedMonster]

@Anna Ranieri

I’m sorry about this whole situation.
I really hope you can keep the chickens and get the others to the sanctuary.
I hope that if you can’t keep any of them that eventually your heart will heal enough so that you can find some sort of easy care pet that IS allowed there and that it will bring joy to you and your family.
I will keep you in my prayers.