Chickens in suburbia...need help with Rules!

[All about the EGG]

Sounds like a scam to me..."I personally dont think that a chicken is a pet." So it comes down to that? Personal feelings? If the Bylaws do not specifically state fowls or chickens, I would challenge it. She said it did NOT specifically state chickens! Get those birds NOW! Before they get to an attorney and change it. Good Luck!

 

[DuckyBoys]

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Yes, I would too. Household pet means it belongs "to the household" - not that it is kept IN the house. She's stretching.........

 

[Dace]

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Well she has since amended that statement to limit pets to common 'household dogs, cat birds and pet' or something equally vague. I am trying to get my hands on a copy of the CC&Rs.

 

[Dace]

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Yes, I would too. Household pet means it belongs "to the household" - not that it is kept IN the house. She's stretching.........

Well you make a good point. I have been thinking about it all night.
I am not going to go get chicks because I have pain in the butt neighbors, one in particular who is just a flat out B**** . So I intend to put together a compelling argument and present it to the HOA board....following in the young lady in South Portland's foot steps

if only I were about 30 yrs younger and cuter, I would maybe stand a better chance!

 

[mom'sfolly]

Most HOAs are pretty vague on pet ordinances. As a homeowner, you have a right to the documents. Contact your management company and demand a copy. Don't let the office people put you off, they work for you. Many HOAs have common loopholes...not for commercial purposes, livestock mentioned but not fowl, reasonable number of pets. These are all work arounds; especially if your city has well written ordinances allowing chickens. Your city seems to allow chickens and your HOA seems ambiguous; which is the situation I'm in. Personally, I like the idea of asking forgiveness, not permission in an ambiguous situation.

 

[DuckyBoys]

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Yes, it is best not to intentionally tick off people whose buttons are easily pushed anyway. I just hate it when people take a little power and use it to make others miserable, as is the case with most HOA's.

Ours seems to be the exception - apparently there hasn't been a quorum in over 4 years and doesn't look like one's gonna happen anytime soon so they have essentially been stripped of power and are thinking about dissolution. The only thing they do anyway is mow the riding trails in the summer and change the lightbulbs in the mail house.

People move out to a place like ours for one reason - to be left the heck alone. No one cares if your dogs bark all day long ( and they only do that when there is a reason anyway), your rooster crows at 4 am, or your donkey brays at midnight.

We love it! I hope you get to make your case for chickens.

Good Luck.

 

[Xtradust]

You know, I'm in the same boat. I live in a pretty snooty community and our CC&R's prohibit poultry.

My neighbors are all very nice and respectful of each other. So, I keep hens and not roos. No one cares and no one calls the HOA on me. If they did, then I'd mess with the HOA.

One thing that might help is, it's not that hard to get a place on the board. My parents HOA board only has 3 people on it. When they need something done, they and a couple friendly neighbors run for the board, get on, and approve whatever they want.

Amendment 2657 "All residences must contain at least one (1) chicken."

 

[DandelionYolks]

I know this isn't excactly pertaining to rules and regs, but when I moved into my new neighbourhood with my chickens, when I introduced myself to my neighbors, I gave them a few eggs instead of cookies. So far we haven't had any complaints abt the roosters wakeup call at 9am sharp every morning.

 

[Dace]

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Now that is an excellent idea

I love that amendment...hilarious! At least your group has a sense of humor!

 

[frankensusan]

Hey Dace, [edit name! oops!]

I see you may actually live in my neighborhood! I had chicks, hens and roos for a while. I got the roos other homes asap, kept hens for a few months longer until they got noisy at dawn... I finally gave them out to good homes because I thought they were annoying my neighbhors...

Turns out none of them even knew I had them!! Seems like people here don't know the sound of a hen, they probably thought it was some wild bird!!!

I have quail now in my aviary, and had told my neighbor that if they woke her up that she should tell me and I'd get rid of them... She said she never hears them! They wake me up at dawn, but I think it is because I'm so worried about the neighbors calling the HOA on me.

I went with the city wide laws, and expected to beg forgiveness if the HOA decided to tell me I couldn't have them. Our CC&Rs didn't say much... If you are in my neighborhood I have a copy!

Susan