Can I keep my chicken a secret?

[Chihuahuamom444]

If you get a couple of silkie hens nobody will ever know they're there, mine are SO quiet....my other chickens cluck a lot

 

[HenPenny]

We are by ordinance allowed to have 10 hens NO roosters. It's the 150 ft regulation I can't get in line with. I haven't measured it but I estimate 50 ft is the Max. I have. We have the postage size lots. There are several chicken people around my neighborhood. I see free roaming chickens just on the street over. I wonder about them getting run over but they never get close to the street. Even beofre I got interested in having chickens for me I never was put off about them. I just thought "Hey cool chickens. " And I hear a rooster somewhere in the distance. LOL

I guess I could claim , "Hey they just came over and stayed a while. "

 

[gryeyes]

Quote:
Hey, if measurements are your only barrier, then I'd go for it. But that's just me. I have at least 50 birds more than I should have, but I'm on an acre and gosh, they move around so much it's hard to count them!

 

[Markp1964]

Quote:
I think it is very important for people with no objections to also raise their voice. If only people who want to own chickens show up at a council meeting, they may make a point. If people who don't want to own chickens, BUT who don't mind it going on in their neighborhood also show up, that sends a much stronger message.

 

[ginormous chicken]

I think you would get a way with it for a while. But then, you will get caught. Like stated before, I think it is better be upfront with your neighbors and ask their opinions. If they don't care on both sides of you, I think you are good. I live in an area that is zoned agricultural residential and I can keep as many as I want. I only have 7 hens. However, there are going to be at least two roosters in the picture in breeding pens.... so... my neighbors in for a surprise! Then again, it is the country. The guy 5 doors down from me told me he had 16 chickens 4 being roosters... so yeah!

 

[allpeepedout]

Flame suit on, but I am subject to highly disruptive illegal activity by neighbors (if only it were as minor as chickens!) but here goes my argument from the other perspective: When people move to an area and invest their resources to be there, they look at the zoning first and have detailed expectations of what will happen there or not, based upon the ordinances and what is legal or not. While a slight bending of the rules may be OK if you respect the true spirit of the law and the rights of your neighbors, it is also important to respect the overall intent of the zoning and to honor the rights of the community.

That said, much zoning prohibiting poultry is silly, antiquated, and needs to be changed. Since you presumably placed yourself in this neighborhood with known poultry restrictions, I would work toward making it legal rather than creating a potential problem for your neighbor. Or, I would talk to my neighbors and get their agreement, and agree to work with any concerns they have including getting rid of the birds if it didn't work out.

Be an ambassador for the exemplary conduct of the backyard poultry owner.

 

[yonder]

Quote:
My in-laws live in a very restrictive HOA neighborhood in Durham, NC. For awhile, they were raising chickens in a coop constructed in their bedroom closet.

Personally, I didn't like going to their house because of the smell. That may have been because of poor coop maintenance (very likely) combined with very poor airflow. They actually had a rooster in their bedroom, and yes he did crow. Quite a lot. When he was fully mature, his crow could be heard right through the windows and the HOA did get complaints about that.

 

[Chickenrandomness]

besides my 2 roosters, my chickens are quieter than my barn cat! they don't even sing the egg song!

 

[Micklemoose]

I would like to try some stealth chickens too. I have a half acre and there are parts of my yard very far from other houses (the lots are 5 times longer than they are wide so my back yard stretches for quite a ways).

My question is this. Is there any ways to keep chickens underground? I am at the top of a hill and my yard slopes downhill over 50ft. I am planning on putting in a bunch of retaining walls and was thinking of keeping chickens under a porch I would be building off of one of these walls. I know chickens need light, but does it have to be natural? Could they get by on the light they would get from the half-an-hour or so in the yard that I could be out there with them to make sure they dont get too loud?

I am not sure if one of my neighbors would have a problem, but I know the other would and if the chickens are really noisy enough to be heard down the street then the fact that I am on top of a hill means most of the town would hear them unless I can make them subterranean most of the time.

 

[HenPenny]

Maybe a dug out style. Half in the ground with the front and door open to once side not facing the neighbors?