Anyone else paranoid in the city?

[Sunnysimplelife]

I have had my chicks for seven weeks now and they are out back full time. I live in a city outside of L.A. and we are allowed to have three hens. Here's the thing. I find myself paranoid of making much noise when I am out there with them and how loud they will become. What if one of my neighbors decides they don't like my chickens. Now here is a a little background. I am an avid gardener. Have the nicest house and gardens on the block. My two side neighbors are cool about it. The people behind and adjacent behind I do not know but hope they will be cool about it. They both have crummy yards not well taken care of and one has a very loud barking dog at times but not all the time. If a city says you can have them but someone complains, will I have to get rid of them?

 

[Kikiriki]

You would have to get rid of your extras, or even might have to pay a fine for every day you are in violation of code. You cant sell eggs, but if you have extra you can certainly gift them to your neighbors! Take them and dont mention how many chickens you have... Just say "here are some extra eggs from my chickens. Let me know if the chickens make any problems". That way they wont be surprised to hear the occasional clucking.

Then talk them all into having their own chickens!

 

[Sunnysimplelife]

Why would I have to pay a fine if the city ordinance allows us to have the hens?

 

[real_redhead]

I live in the city as well but not like L.A. I can have up to 10 chickens and haven't had a problem. My girls tended to get noisy when laying an egg of course but then after a while they quited down. They are not noisy at night! BUT they know when I come home, when they hear my car coming down the alley or the garage door opening they start going crazy (because I spoil them with treats). I have one neighbor directly beside me who isn't the nicest (yells at kids in her yard and such!) and I am always worried about her but I do take eggs over once in a while and have asked if she has any problems with my girls to please let me know. She had no problem telling me she would call animal control if there were problems. I keep the area clean and smell free, I only let them free range when I am home. Some of my other neighbors have no idea I have chickens. They are no louder than a dog barking and I don't think as bad. Good luck and as long as you are keeping to the 3 you shouldn't have any problems. Where I live the coop has to be 50 ft away from a neighbors house which was kind of tricky since we are close and you have to keep the smell down and keep it clean so as not to attrack rats.

 

[Sunnysimplelife]

Thanks for the info. I clean up spots daily and take the food in at night. I intend to keep it unsmelly as it is right off our back patio and I sure don't want to smell it.

 

[egghead@1265]

Hi, Not Paranoid, as you stated in your note, but just a comment on waste and smell, as that seems to be an issue and even more of a concern for people who CLAIM to be against chickens/poultry in neighborhoods and/or rural residential areas! You seem like most chicken owners, as you are caring for them and the reason you want chickens is to have a healthy and safe food source...caring for them as you would a pet, and so on! Great Job!

We faced this concern of smell and excessive waste in Wisconsin, and have spoke with others who have chickens who were faced with the same opposition!

A small amount of research validated the GREAT Benefit of Chickens and the Waste that they DO produce! YEAH!

POOP of Chickens is GOOD! (Dogs and Cats on the other hand, well, you will see below!-even though I love all animals!..of course!)

See below/if helpful!


The Real Bounty of The Coop (Hint: It’s Not Eggs)

http://www.nwedible.com/2012/02/the-real-bounty-of-the-coo.html


http://www.urbanchickens.net/2009/02/what-to-do-with-urban-chicken-poop.html

Waste from Chickens
Chicken waste when composted makes great fertilizer!
For instance-4 Chickens make less waste than one Dog!

Many sites explaining how to use the small amount of chicken waste and turn it into valuable garden fertilizer.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4800618_use-chicken-manure-garden-fertilizer.html

http://duluthcitychickens.org/faq

Myth 3. Waste and Odor. http://www.bigrstore.com/blog/view/1402
Fact: a 40 pound dog generates more solid waste then 10 chickens. To be more specific, one 40 pound dog generates about ¾ pounds (.75 pounds) of poo every day. Ten chickens generate about two-thirds pounds (.66 pounds) daily poop.

 

[Sunnysimplelife]

Wow thanks for all that. I will copy it and file it away. I agree. I have a big dog and daily the piles it creates and I have to throw away are gross. You can't do anything with it but toss it. At least the chicken poo can go in the green bin or be composted by me.

 

[l-o-v-e]

I have always loved my chicks and Ill give you one tip : dont leave chicks alone with hens until there full grown other wise the hens might beat them up

heres for the city heres for you

 

[shober]

I also live in a city outside of Los Angeles and I am allowed 15 hens only. I had 18 and someone called animal control saying I had a rooster! Well, the officer came out, counted them and told me to get rid of 3 hens and that was it! I still get a little nervous when they sing the egg song, but I have had them 9 months now and no complaints! If you are allowed hens, there is no worry as you are not in violation. I don't think even if they are loud will you have to get rid of them. They are quiet at night and that is when folks like it quiet. You are allowed to have loud music until 10:00pm right? I feel the same thing goes for chickens!!

 

[Sunnysimplelife]

Shober wow what city are you in? I can only have three. I am in L.A. county. I hope if someone complains I get the same treatment and not told I have to get rid of them. I would CRY!!!