Been crying all afternoon, thoughts on solution?

[theoldchick]

Yeah, 19 chickens might be a bit much, but as a country gal who had to live in the city, I understand the need to be close you your roots.

Sure, keep a few chickens as garage pets. Make sure they have super exclusive housing-heck, include indoor plumbing and call it a spare bedroom. You don't have to worry about diapers-just get you a good wet/dry shop vac. to clean up the mess. You can take your chickens out on a leash made from light nylon material. You can dress them up in chicken aprons and let them roam about your back yard. Once chickens are wearing clothes they become common pets and are well tolerated You, on the other hand, may be labeled as a crazy chicken lady, and for some reason crazy animal people are tolerated better than angry neighbors.

Sure, your neighbors may whisper behind your back, and you'll see those subtle 'crazy lady looks', but hey you'll have fresh eggs!


Now, as a side note to clarify why the BIL fought over the six foot fence. Originally, he wanted to replace his tiny wrought iron fence with a pretty white picket fence to keep the puppy in the yard. He was not allowed because the fence was 4 ft high. Anybody knows a 3 foot fence won't keep a snail in much less an active puppy. So, I can see why a six foot privacy fence was a slap in his face.

 

[Kay56]

So sorry for your situation..... and hope it can be resolved in your favor.

 

[theoldchick]

Just in case you don't know what chicken aprons are:

Isn't she darling?




Speedy lovers her apron and makes sure I know it.

 

[gapeach717]

oh i am LOVING the chicken wear!

http://www.hensaver.com/Hen-Holster.html

I just got off the phone with county codes AGAIN


i have to wait til next week, for now, I dont have to do anything....but I will prepare.

right now it appears that 2 codes fight against each other, and no one has ever in the history of these codes fought them the way i am. BUT...one code says :A.
No livestock shall be kept or maintained in any residential zone except that for each dwelling unit the occupant may keep for his personal use domestic pets (dogs, cats, and horses, etc.) so long as they are not kept or used for commercial or breeding purposes, or as to create a nuisance.

and the other says:
It shall be unlawful to keep, feed, breed, stable, pasture, herd or maintain livestock or domestic fowl on or in any lot, pen, building, parcel of land, stable, or other enclosure in the city, any part of which enclosure is nearer than 76 feet to the property line.

my argument is that if kept outside, I understand that i am breaking code, however, can you please tell me the difference in keeping 3 chihuahuas, 3 cats, 3 parrots, or 3 chickens in the house? If all are named and pets? Can you come in just bc you dont view a chicken as a "usual" pet and take my pet away, but yet the guy with the dog panting in 100* southern summer heat is ok, bc one if viewed as a "common" pet and one not? and if I have 3 dogs in my home, what is the difference in having those or chickens? you know what? NOTHING! She says now they have to double check with the housing and building codes guy who is away at a conference til next monday, and that the judge AND the codes guy on this stuff are both farmers....and both love their chickens. (she then asked me about kinds of chickens, and how you can sex them, and clothing, and leash walking....and i thought this was humorous) anyhow, it turns out, my argument is TOO valid and their code is TOO vague to just come and take them if they are IN my home....so now...we wait.nothing to do but lighten the load and wait til next week.

 

[KindlyLeaf]

I'm sure the OP has looked at the rules and knows them well. There are those here though that read the coop has to be 100 feet from the nearest residence (not including your own) and think that means property line. Nope, it means the actual house. Be sure it's 76 feet from the property line and not from "the nearest residence."

I think this is good advice. How does the HOA code read about the 76 feet rule?

and my HOA code states:

"no animals, livestock, or poultry of any kind can be raised, bred, or kept or permitted on the ***EXTERIOR*** of any Lot, with the exception of dogs, cats, or other usual and common household pets."

I think "or other usual and common household pets" sounds like a potential loophole.

 

[The Lazy L]

Sadly the person at the root of this misery is one of the girls on the Hoa board, they wouldn't approve a flower in my yard right now!!

Respectfully disagree.

The root of this misery is the one who contractually agreed to abide by the HOA rules and then choose go back on their word.

 

[galanie]

The reason I recommended diapers is because that will allow you to keep them inside the house instead of in the garage. The garage is nice but how hot does it get in there in the summertime? Many people's garages get much to hot to house animals in.

 

[gapeach717]

Respectfully disagree.

The root of this misery is the one who contractually agreed to abide by the HOA rules and then choose go back on their word.

OUCH. guess i somehow deserved that one.

 

[gapeach717]

the hoa stands by the 76 foot rule bc no lot has that much room...however...they only state they cannot be kept on the EXTERIOR of a lot....so again....the garage would be my HOA loophole. Now I wait for the ruling on the chickens as a pet in my house thing.

 

[gapeach717]

The reason I recommended diapers is because that will allow you to keep them inside the house instead of in the garage. The garage is nice but how hot does it get in there in the summertime? Many people's garages get much to hot to house animals in.

i love the idea of diapers...especially if i win this and can then walk them!!

my garage is good though, it gets a tad warm in the mornings, but cool all evening and night. and i would bring them out in the back yard to roam and peck and scratch just like my dogs get outside playtime. I also have fans and if i win the city codes battle I can also open the doors all the way up for breeze since i can seemingly have them on the INTERIOR of my house!