An absolute stealth coop issue

[jpcode]

Unless you have chicken muzzles, you won't be able to hide them once they start laying. Imho I think dogs are noisier, stinkier and they don't just go to sleep as soon as it gets dark. I appreciate my neighbor's german shepard becuase I don't get skunks etc in my yard.

 

[coolcanoechic]

I agree with you both, suzyQlou and Coup. I did go over with the consent form to sign and pix of my original coop design to show them; they refused to sign, stating that this was the city (it's not really, but whatever) and chickens look trashy (they really can in a front yard, sorry). I mentioned that people a few blocks away had them and she said that they were the ones who got them dead set against chickens and they thought it was awful.

Do 3 hens really make that much noise? With a tall barrier of trees and bushes, and growth between us, not to mention the great distance between our houses, and the noise of their barking terrier? In addition there will be bushes and shrubs around the outside run area.

Be that as it may, I only plan to set the whole thing up and then ask him again.

That said, how do I install a closing pop door in a resin/plastic shed? I have no tools to speak of but can ask around or rent. Any ideas?

Thanks

I think if you really plan to go ahead and do this, then you should have a carpenter build something that looks beautiful and matches your house. Even if you are hiding it behind bushes. The neighbors do not want to see something they think is trashy, such as they stated about the people up the street. It does not have to be big with only 3 chickens. If you are living in a well to do neighborhood, then the neighbors expect you to maintain the nice look of your part of the neighborhood. To make your property ugly in any way would decrease the property value of your neighbors homes. I think that is why they are against the chickens. Most people in general, think a coop is an old wood shack with rats running around and gross chicken poo all over the place stinking to high heaven. We, as chicken enthusiasts, know this is not the way it is at all. Check out the coops page and have a look at all the small sized coops. There are many beautiful examples there to view and get ideas from. I wish you the best of luck and hope that things don't go badly with you and your neighbor.

 

[sumu]

Oh, thanks! I am going to look at small sheds this evening after work and see what I can devise. I agree that coops don't have to look and smell horrendous. That's why I want to win this guy over and prove it to him. His dog is way noisier than any chicken.

 

[Coop de Grille]

I agree with you both, suzyQlou and Coup. I did go over with the consent form to sign and pix of my original coop design to show them; they refused to sign, stating that this was the city (it's not really, but whatever) and chickens look trashy (they really can in a front yard, sorry). I mentioned that people a few blocks away had them and she said that they were the ones who got them dead set against chickens and they thought it was awful.

Do 3 hens really make that much noise? With a tall barrier of trees and bushes, and growth between us, not to mention the great distance between our houses, and the noise of their barking terrier? In addition there will be bushes and shrubs around the outside run area.

Be that as it may, I only plan to set the whole thing up and then ask him again.

That said, how do I install a closing pop door in a resin/plastic shed? I have no tools to speak of but can ask around or rent. Any ideas?

Thanks

Yes, once they start laying they will make noise. I have one that sings her egg song for an hour before and an hour after laying. They also sound an alert when they see me coming with treats and all my girls rush the door to see what I have for them. I don't think bushes and shrubs are going to muffle the sound enough to not piss off any neighbors, and certainly not quiet enough to keep them under the radar.

I'm sorry, I wish I could say otherwise. I lived for 7 years in a house where I was not allowed to have chickens and I do feel your pain.

 

[NovaAman]

Got a friend who made his coop in his garage. Makes it nice, since the garage is way more insulated when it comes time to lay the eggs. They cornered off a back section, made a human door to go in it on the inside, and a pop door they open to let them out to the run area. I think if you have a privacy fence in the back yard so they are not seen by the neighbors, maybe that would help? I know that is a lot of area to fence, but mayby just a half fenced area... um... I know what I am trying to say, so the whole yard is not done, but equal privacy fencing on the front part of the back yard so it looks balanced, looks private from the road, so you could keep the girls then in that private area. They will travel to other peoples yards anyway if they are not confined, and maybe this is part of their problem as well. They do not want chicken in their yard. Are they immediate neighbors? Oh, that would suck. But if they are a few doors down... How many do you need to have say its ok? Well anyway... Then be sure to pick a really pretty breed of hen... Faverolles, Wyandottes... Nice fat cochins or buff orpingtons... You'll get good eggs, and the birds are "make you stop and look at how pretty" birds!

Good luck.

 

[SunnyAlberta]

I have three that are getting ready to lay and they are very noisy in the morning. I must move my teeny coop into the shed or garage or insulate it with straw bales to muffle cackles so as not to upset neighbors who like to sleep in.

A "dog house and kennel" (with a shade cover)is less likely to draw suspicious eyes than a traditional coop, even if that coop is pretty.

 

[Coop de Grille]

And if that neighbor does complain, you could always get a big, LOUD dog. Maybe then he will compromise on a few chickens lol..

 

[crchickens]

Yes, they are that noisy!! We have goats, pigs, dogs and chickens. We can tell the dogs to be quiet, but there is no telling a chicken to be quiet. We live rural, and have acreage, as do our neighbors, but I am quite certain that they hear the chickens singing their egg song. I think the chickens are the noisiest of the bunch.

 

[joan1708]

My chickens start clucking when I go out there because they think they are going to get a treat (which they usually do). I have silkies and I don't think they are that loud. I did put them on the side of the house, as far away from my neighbors as I could get them (I'm on a corner lot). My biggest fear is someone will hear them walking down the street and turn me in.

If your neighbor goes outside, or does much yard work, he will eventually hear them. If I were going to risk it, I'd put the coop on the other side of the house from him. Maybe put a loud water feature in the yard to drown out some of the noise. Maybe play a radio in the yard all day.

I think if your yard is kept very attractive and neat now, that should help reassure him that you will keep things up. But if your yard is messy, or ever gets "weedy looking" and overgrown, then that could make him nervous about how you will keep your chickens.

And seriously, the cookies couldn't hurt.