Bay Area BYCers!

[PetRock]

Hi All!
I'm in Napa with a small flock of backyard chickens. We have one Black Mottled Bantam Cochin Rooster. Two Bantam Mille Fleur hens. A Sicilian Buttercup hen and rooster. I can't wait to move out of the city so we can expand!
I'm interested in poultry shows in driving distance if anyone knows of any.

Moving out of the city and expanding my flock is my dream, also!

 

[clio]

Does anyone know what the "noise ordinance" is for chickens in Berkeley? Lorie just called me to say she got a citation for the chickens being "too noisy" .. there are only 4 hens, NO roosters. The coop is in compliance. They live four blocks from the Adeline Street Berkeley Bowl, at Fulton/Stuart Streets. I suspect that AC was sent out because of the same neighbor who complained in October. Suggestions?? How does one contest the citation? No, we are not going to give them any eggs! Thanks

 

[Tressa27884]

I would suggest getting statements from the neighbors that are NOT complaining. I have one neighbor who complains non stop about my animals, my neighbors animals.....anything he can complain about he does. There are several of us who have chickens on this block. Recently AC was parked in front of my house and when I went out to investigate he said that there had been a noise complaint, but he wasn't sure which house the complaint was on. I suggested he ask the neighbors up and down the block if they felt there was an issue, and explained that this one neighbor was just really grumpy. To my amazement he did just that. All the neighbors he talked to told him that yes there were chickens in our neighborhood [they're legal], and nobody felt they were too noisy.

 

[boogiedog]

Clio - I just placed a call to Berkeley Animal Control (we work closely with them - I am at EBSPCA) to get some info. They are good, reasonable folks so I will find out what is going on.

Tressa's suggestion is also a good one. Letters of support, for the file, never hurt.

It sounds like Lorie is within compliance, and the neighbor would be hard-pressed to do more than continue to complain and create stress. At some point it is very possible that the complaints may be deemed frivoless, but while they currently are infrequent I suspect AC has to respond.

Feel free to PM me; I will let you know what BAC says. (I can perhaps advise them of Lorie's address specifically and they can put a note in her file.)

 

[clio]

Hi,
here's the latest from today ... yesterday was the chicken noise supposedly from the kids' chickens, even though the next property has chickens also.
AC came to my Berkeley house today, again ... this time with a photo that the next door person took sometime ago, of the BCM that was walking in the garden OUTSIDE of the coop enclosure, but within 25 feet of their property. She was told this is a violation. The AC officer (a different one than yesterday's) asked Lorie to see the coop. She had just fed the Delaware, and by chance, the Delaware was standing outside the coop enclosure, but still in the garden, on our property. Well, she was given a $200.00 ticket b/c the chicken was NOT 25 feet away from the neighbor's property. And, AC says b/c the person complained "in person," they have to follow up each time, and write citations.
We are all very upset with all of this, and, bottom line, are feeling that the neighbor wants us to get rid of the 4 chickens. After that, she will find another reason, like the two children might be crying or playing too loud, etc.
This person and her husband bought the property, and do not live there, but in Orinda. Their adult children live there. The daughter has also complained about noise to the police about the neighbor two doors away who was having a baby shower at 10 p.m. last year. Lorie and the family who live next door couldn't even hear the party! Go figure ...

Tressa, thanks for the suggestion ... None of the neighbors have complained or anything ... we all get along, except for this one .. guess they are mad that they lost money on their real estate income property and still need to pay between $15,000 and $17,000 in property taxes

Boogiedog, thanks for helping us. Pls. email me and I can give you more info, etc. or call you. Great to have met you on Sunday.

 

[Tressa27884]

Quote:
We all get along really well in my neighborhood too. We do egg and veggie swaps, have street parties.....the guy who complains about everybody is one street over [behind me], and over two houses. My neighbors on both sides filed reports for me saying that they aren't bothered and don't hear my girls, and then several of is filed a harrassment complaint against him. So far he's stopped being a bully - but I'm sure this isn't over...sadly

 

[Harris8]

Hi Jake,

I'm brand new. Have been thinking about chickens here in SF for about a year. Would love to talk with someone local all about it. Could you contact me? Haven't done the introduction yet but am encouraged just to see there are some folks here in town. Best, Harris

 

[PetRock]

Hi Jake,

I'm brand new. Have been thinking about chickens here in SF for about a year. Would love to talk with someone local all about it. Could you contact me? Haven't done the introduction yet but am encouraged just to see there are some folks here in town. Best, Harris

 

[sewandgrow]

Hi Jake,

I'm brand new. Have been thinking about chickens here in SF for about a year. Would love to talk with someone local all about it. Could you contact me? Haven't done the introduction yet but am encouraged just to see there are some folks here in town. Best, Harris

Welcome Harris. I think you will find several people within driving distance from you. There is a "chickenstock" being planned in Lafayette in June at Sierra Ranch so you can meet alot of us there.
Karen in Turlock

 

[TeamRetic]

I have Black Sweedish ducks and drakes, with only one Black Runner drake. My ducklings have always looked Black Sweedish, though, so maybe he is not the dad. I can hatch some anytime if you are interested. Here is one of the drakes posing on hubby's shoulder. We call this the cheep pirate.

I really like how your duck looks. It is very cute looking. I just got my first duck a week ago. It is a Pekin duck and it is very cute.