Currently I live in a city where I can not have chickens. The law does not list specifically that it does not allow chickens. However, I have called the planning and zoning people and they said that they do not allow it. Would people here recommend against having them anyway even if I have a family member who is willing to take them if we have to get rid of them? If I do get them anyone have any experience or advice on how to "disguise" them the best way possible?
The city states that I can have household pets (listed below) but they state that chickens are not household pets and are considered livestock. However due to the vagueness of their definition I believe chickens meet this definition.
Household Pets: Small animals which are customarily kept as household pets or which
are generally trainable and readily adaptable to urban residences. Household pets may include
small domestic animals as well as other nontraditional pets and exotic animals.
I wouldn't. There is no amount of eggs or the pleasure of keeping chickens worth having to fight, hide, lie, or otherwise compromise good values and your peace of mind. I've read many threads about this on this forum and others where the people who go against their town about having a few chickens end up in some high levels of distress and strife in their lives over it, with neighbor complaints, visits from the cops, fines levied, and, finally, having to give up the birds they've grown attached to.
It's just not worth it for a few eggs. It would be cheaper and less stressful, while also supporting your local farmers, if you just purchased your eggs from a reputable farmer or backyarder that lives outside these zoning restrictions.
Imagine what this teaches children...rules are not to be followed if you really, really just want what you want regardless of the rules. It doesn't matter that the rules are there for a good reason, if you want something do it anyway~ even if you have to lie, conceal and live in strife with other people to get it. Rules are for other people, but not for you.