Arizona Chickens

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: In Arizona, poultry are not livestock. Livestock are mammals by state definition. As I understand the post, the landlord admits to entering the property and calling a rescue organization, but will not supply the name, Yes, that is theft, and yes the police should be called. The landlord violated landlord tenant laws as well as property theft. Depending on the age, breed and quality of the birds, they could be worth anywhere from $12 on up per bird. (Pratts sells laying hens for $12; exhibition birds and fancy breeds, even if not exhibition are typically worth more.)

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I think a hen is worth $20.00 - $50.00+ each depending. 12 hens = a min. Of $240.00 to what ever more. They were "rescued" by person unknown with the add of the landlord, that is THEFT. Call the police, report a theft of personal property. I am not sure, but! Arizona still has laws, not yet removed, covering livestock stolen. Check into it, you may be surprised. The laws in this state, around live stock as a ranching/range state.

I would call the police. Use the system.

I am not trying to defend the landlords actions, but.....

It may not be 'theft' if the following are true:

1.) The chickens were illegal in that city. (if a tenant is in violation of the law, the landlord has certain additional rights and responsibilities to correct the violation)

2.) The landlord must notify the tenant 24 hours in advance of entering the property...if he did not enter until 2 days later, he could have posted a note on the front door of his intentions to enter the property the day (or 2) before, therefore he was within his legal rights to enter the property on that day.

3.) If the there is an emergency (such as animal safety), the 24 hour rule is null. So if a neighbor contacted the landlord to say the tenants left on vacation and their animals were not being attended to, and the landlord found them to be out of food, water, or in this heat without adequate shade, then again he was within his rights to allow the animals to be rescued.


I have no idea if any of these apply, just wanted to be fair to both sides by mentioning them. Landlords (yes I am one) tend to get a bad rap in many situations when the tenant is at fault, like for example when a tenant spends all their money on partying instead of paying rent, then after eviction they feel justified in tearing up the place and leaving it a pig sty.

So, with this said, IF your chickens were legally there; had plenty of food, water, shelter, and shade; a neighbor was taking good care of them in your absence; and having chickens was not a violation of your lease, then the landlord was in the wrong. I hope the chickens are safe & sound back at home now, I sure would like to hear a happy ending to this tragic story.

Very well stated!

 

[Timskins]

In Arizona, poultry are not livestock.  Livestock are mammals by state definition.  As I understand the post, the landlord admits to entering the property and calling a rescue organization, but will not supply the name,  Yes, that is theft, and yes the police should be called.  The landlord violated landlord tenant laws as well as property theft.  Depending on the age, breed and quality of the birds, they could be worth anywhere from $12 on up per bird.  (Pratts sells laying hens for $12; exhibition birds and fancy breeds, even if not exhibition are typically worth more.)

Landlord tenant disputes are civil in nature and have to be handled through civil litigation. Calling the police for "theft" charges wont help. The op needs to get a copy of the landlord tenant laws for Arizona and familiarize themselves with it.

 

[Arizonachicken]

I had two broodys share a nest this spring and when the first chick hatched on Friday very early in the morning that is how they were. I was worried since they were both first time mommies. The rest of the chicks hatched on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. The first one ran around for 30 hours before anyone else even hatched. Then the hens ignored everyone till Monday afternoon when we moved them to a brooder area and then they changed from sitting behavior to mommy behavior.
I have sen this with a few broodys that it takes a few days from the first hatch to getting of the nest, they need time for hormones to change and it gives all the chicks time to hatch.

Great info! My Blue Marans is taking more of an interest in them. She still sits a lot, but I think she's going to care for them. Yay!

 

[flower]

Or, how do you get the yolk to be darker?

There have been post here about people who harvest weeds from around their neighborhood. I like that idea and have picked a few from across the street. But now my yard has enough grasses for the flock. And I have many sunflowers coming into seeds and ready for the girls. Also I planted two types of "fodder" SPELT and

QUINONA which may not yield much this fall but if I let them seed themselves they may give me a good crop next year.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinoa

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: Taking property is theft. And that is criminal, regardless of whether there is a landlord tenant relationship or it is by perfect strangers. Entering the property in violation of required notice is a civil offense (unless it is breaking and entering--there could be a fine line there, and the reality is that both criminal and civil charges are possible with the same set of actions.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

This is so interesting and iformitive. I was unaware of the fpdiffinition of livestock, not surprisingly because I have not researched it. I will never know when I will need to call on this information. There is whole sell and retail, the $20.00 is retail. I did not have the wholesale value Tudor a hen. Assumption is productive years of age. Fancy beards and bantams I have no idea and would like to know about wholesale and retail value for average. Ofcourse, what some one will pay for a pullet/hen & cockerel/rooster is not the same as set by market and courts.

A hen at $12.00 is still over $100.00 in property. The $12.00 is selling to feed store, but wouldn't you use replacement value? That would be $20.00? I'm curiouser, this leads to dozens of other questions. :/

 

[City farm]

On Friday June 21, 2013, 12 hens were "rescued" from my backyard against my authority. 5124 E. Avalon Dr Phoenix AZ. I would really like my chickens back. We were on vacation and a neighbor was caring for the hens. Two days later they were gone. My landlord came by and saw we weren't home. She called a rescue to pick them up and won't tell me who she contacted. Has anyone picked up chickens in Arcadia area? Please contact me if you know of any chicken rescues in the area.

Are you kidding me!! The landlord from what I understand has to contact you before entering your property?? I cold be wrong..

If you want you can have all of our chickens that were suppose to go to our friends that do missionary work in Mexico.. We also have
our hen sitting on 14 eggs,, not 12 as I originally thought. If you want babies you can have them too. PM us I will tell you what breeds
we have.. You could look at our profile as well..

 

[Demosthine]

We hit up our fairly new Goodwill Redesign Store the other day and there was chicken stuff galore. All overpriced if uoh ask me, but still cute...

And I remembered to get some photos of the AquaFarm. The grass in the top left is the wheatgrass. I am absolutely astounded how fast it grows. The ultimate fodder, if you ask me. It is supposed to he highly nutritious, so I ate a few blades. It tastes pretty good, too, like something you'd through in a salad.

Otherwise, things are going well here and our clan seems to be doing well in the heat. We are averaging two out of three eggs a day. There's no sign of my two Black Coppers, my two New Hampshire's, nor my wife's Silkie laying anytime soon. They haven't shown any interest in nesting. But the first four are growing well and are absolutely gorgeous! Thanks again DesertMarcy for the Marans and CBNovick for the Hampshires!

 

[Demosthine]

Are you kidding me!! The landlord from what I understand has to contact you before entering your property?? I cold be wrong..

If you want you can have all of our chickens that were suppose to go to our friends that do missionary work in Mexico.. We also have
our hen sitting on 14 eggs,, not 12 as I originally thought. If you want babies you can have them too. PM us I'll you what breeds
we have.. You could look at our profile as well..

The landlord does not have to contact you, he simply has to give you two days notice of his plan to enter the property "in order to inspect the premises, make necessary or agreed repairs, decorations, alterations or improvements, supply necessary or agreed services or exhibit the dwelling unit to prospective or actual purchasers, mortgagees, tenants, workmen or contractors." A.R.S. 33-1342. Unfortunately, leaving a sticky note on the door is a valid enough "notice."

Landlord/tenant issues get nasty awfully fast. There is too little information here to know for sure what was right or wrong, as several others have mentioned, in regards to removing the chickens. However, he is obligated notify you of the noncompliance of the rental agreement and give you ten days to correct the noncomplaince before any action is taken. Once an order is issued from the court, the landlord can take immediate possession of the property and must maintain the property for a period of 21 days. A.R.S. 33-1368(E) This entire section does not matter because I guarantee there were no orders by the court regarding the situation. There wasn't enough time for any of this.

The Attorney General's Office recommends you notify the landlord immediately of the violation and that he has violated your legal rights. You can find a sample form on Page 43 of the Arizona Tenants' Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.


Clucky, I would contact the police and file a report regardless of whether you were within the guidelines of your tenant agreement, within the rules of the HOA, and the laws of your city. Even violating these does not give them the right to remove your property. There is a process the must follow.

** Edited for Clarity and References **