Can my Neighbours make me get rid of my chickens??

[Davaroo]

Quote:
WOW - there's a good point.

I think the OP did that and believes its okay to have chickens, or at least that there is no provision prohibiting them. But again, that doesn't mean the neighbors are barred from going after you, regardless.
Anybody determined enough can find you at fault for something.....

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Since the local "association" has gone to the point of pubishing the information that chickens are legal, I do believe that the OP is within their rights. Certainly would be of help to know exactly what the rights are: zoning and ordinances that relate to animals. Also any noise or nuisance ordinances. A person who continually complains about something that is legitimate and allowed will become the laughing stock, and whoever receives the complaint is not necessarily required to visit the scene of the complaint. I could call and complain about the colour of my neighbor's house, but since the city does not regulate it, they will not respond other than to say that it si not within their jurisdiction. They could call and say that you are keeping more chickens than are allowed, but once the inspector has determined that that is in error, and has done so a time or two, they will stop inspecting. Some places have fines or penalties for making false reports.


What might actually be helpful is to provide factual information about keeping poultry: not just that it is legal, but also the benefits.

 

[jaj121159]

Quote:
You are wrong. Nebraska has local control by county. In the unincorporated area of the county we allow livestock in every zoning district until a different use is put in. We allow farming , including livestock, in industrial and commercial as long as it meets a certain number of animal units. We've even had sheep grazing on a 20 acre industrial parcel with a warehouse on it. The big key can be confinement. A chicken living in a coop with a run, provided the grass is gone from the run is considered confined in Nebraska even if it is technically "free range." Critters on pasture are not considered confined even if they are inside a fence. Chickens in a chicken tractor covered with fence are not considered confined. Livestock rules are confusing.

 

[sovia]

We have a similar situation where we live. One of my neighbor's allows her chickens to free-range throughout the entire "village" and the part-timers understandably don't like stepping in chicken poo the moment they walk outside their door. I'm wondering if your chickens are confined to your property or if they venture onto other's property? If they do step off your property, I can understand the neighbor's complaints.

 

[thekid]

Quote:

LOL!! I would probably give the same advice haha

 

[M To The Maxx]

IMHO they can't get rid of your chickens by law if they are legal to have them. If the case they would have to have the whole "neighborhood" to sign a petition.

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
The law sets precedent for what you can and cannot do. That is it's purpose. It is, in fact, based on precedent.

But it only takes a determined group to set a new a precedent and change the status quo. Thats the danger of democracy - a majority can over ride you, even if they are wrong.

In the end, never be too sure the Law is one your side.

 

[annaraven]

I would suggest, when summer comes and the cottagers arrive, have a big open house party at your place, including tours of the chicken coop. Show how clean you keep it, and how they are watered and fed, and make sure you include homemade egg dishes in the party munchies. Maybe give every family a pretty certificate for a half dozen organic, freerange eggs, that they can redeem during the summer (with advance notice so that you don't have everyone trying to get them all at once).

Just an idea. Hope things work out for you!

 

[Komaki]

If these people don't care for the farming life style, what the h--- are they doing there? That type of people always seem to move into an area and try to change everything to suit themself. If it were me, you can bet I would not give it a second thought. Good luck.

 

[Cass]

I'm with the "more chickens camp"...however only about 6 more....good laying hens...(the law says "laying hens" so no peafowl allowed) Would be great if they were EE or Marans that lay wonderful colored eggs. Then I would box up a 1/2 dozen eggs and go to the furthest cottage from yours, at the beginning of the vacation (read PIA) season. I'd say "Welcome back. I hope my chickens aren't too noisy. Just wanted you to have these, since it's so hard to travel with eggs" and hand them the 1/2 dozen of colored eggs. That will probably get the conversation started. I would make sure I wiggled the fact I lived there YEAR ROUND into the converstation; that this was your HOME and you needed to do all the things that "home" means, including raising your own eggs to keep food cost down for your family. (OK, we ALL know that it cost more to raise your own eggs, but THEY don't)

I would work my way down the row of cottages as fast as the chickens laid the eggs, making sure to insert fact of year round residency into each conversation.

I can tell you from experience that attitudes change when vacationers realize that not all the neighbors are on vacation, like themselves. (I used to curse at the across the channel neighbors cuz of their early morning routine, until I learned they lived there YEAR ROUND and I was intruding on their HOME atmosphere, and they liked it when my camp was EMPTY cuz it wasn't so noisy at NIGHT...LOL)