Chickens on my rental property.

[BYChickenAl]

First, more information, please! How big is the property? Are there close neighbors? Are there any zoning laws regulating poultry keeping in the neighborhood?

If it were my property, I would allow a few chickens to meet the tenant's own personal needs for eggs. The tenant would be responsible for providing safe housing, including an enclosed run. The coop and run would need to be consistent in construction details with the rental house, as well as the neighboring properties. In other words, no little coop shacks cobbled together in a residential neighborhood. The coop would have X# of sq. feet, be a walk in style, or at least 4' tall, the run would have X# of sq. feet, and be covered. Based on your tenant agreement, there would be 4 s.f. in coop and 10 s.f. in run per bird. I think I'd limit flock size to 6 birds, no rooster. The coop and run would be at least 30' away from the rental home, and would be a minimum of the same distance from any neighboring homes. The tenant would be required to keep the coop and run in good repair, and limit odors by frequent cleaning or deep litter management. You would have to reach an agreement with tenant re: free range/supervised free range time, or birds kept secured in coop/run at all times.

NO WAY WOULD I ALLOW A TENANT TO KEEP 60 BIRDS ON A RENTAL PROPERTY, UNLESS IT WAS A FARMSTEAD.

Almost to the point of quoting PETA requirements as the minimum.

 

[Mrs. K]

Nope, I have had chickens for years, and I love them as a hobby. But I don't think I would let a renter have chickens, if I did, it would be less than 5, no where near 60.

If she is raising 60 birds to make money, that changes the value of the property. You are renting a business space. It should cost more money.

 

[Jocelyne]

Situational...I would need more information about the property, the current lease, the local laws/covenants/restrictions/etc... Bottom line is that it's your call. Knowing what kind of damage chickens can cause without the right management, I doubt that I would allow it. But if the property is rural and already has the facilities for a small flock... I had a clause in a previous lease that allowed me to inspect the property on a monthly basis...giving a minimum 12-hour notice of the inspection.

Situational...I would need more information about the property, the current lease, the local laws/covenants/restrictions/etc... Bottom line is that it's your call. Knowing what kind of damage chickens can cause without the right management, I doubt that I would allow it. But if the property is rural and already has the facilities for a small flock... I had a clause in a previous lease that allowed me to inspect the property on a monthly basis...giving a minimum 12-hour notice of the inspection.

 

[Jocelyne]

60 seems like a lot, is she raising meat birds?

Good idea posting here, when you figure out what you are willing to allow after considering neighbors and regulations and whatever else write a very specific addendum to your lease.

If it were me i would say no more than 12 birds. No roosters.

As for the coop i would say a full size 10x12 walk in shed. That way if she leaves it behind it can be repurposed for storage. I would tell her exactly where she can build it. I would tell her no chickens in the house. Shed must be built prior to getting chicks. Chicks must be brooded in shed under heat plate. No heat lamps.

Good luck

Gary

She wants to raise 50 meat birds and 10 layers. The layers she would keep all year long in a shed that she would built. Thanks for your suggestion.

 

[Jocelyne]

I don't know where you could find an example for a chicken agreement.... I have 14 chickens right now and am planning to expand.
But first how big is your rental property maybe 60 is too many and you could ask her to go with an amount that seems sensible to the amount of space you have. If she's never had chickens before my experience is that sixty could be a bit much. But also what is commercial for you? Is it having a small farm stand where you sell eggs are going really commercial and selling in a grocery store? If it's the latter the coop and chickens will have to undergo inspections. Maybe you are not comfortable with that and want her to just do a farm stand. Allow her to have an amount of chickens that for her is enough but small enough that you feel okay.
The rule of thumb for chicken spacing is 2-3 sq feet per chicken in a coop and 8-10 square feet in the run.
And welcome to BYC!!!!! It's a lovely site!

Thank you, Our property is a farmland where we raise cattle. There is ample space beside the house and the neighbors are far enough (and most also have their own chicks).
So 60 chicks for meat (she said she would keep these for 8 weeks) then 10 chickens for eggs (she would keep these through the winter) if the coop is 12 x 8 and the run 100 square feet whould this be ample space?

 

[Mrs. Light Sussex]

Contrary to others who voiced their opinions here, in my opinion, the only thing you should be concerned about is the potential damage to your property. To deal with that take an open check to be cashed at the end of the lease period if damage was actually caused. Of course you will have to clearly state what you consider 'damage' as apposed to the regular wear & tear. The best thing would be to agree upon a specific arbitrator to settle any disputes.
Laws, regulations, ordinances and animal welfare are none of your concern.

 

[Jocelyne]

Almost to the point of quoting PETA requirements as the minimum.

60 birds through summer and 10 over winter is not any sort of egg production. She'd only have 10 birds laying. The thought is either to brood and raise pullets to sell or she intends to breed, hatch and raise 50 birds over summer for sale and flock rotation or she intends to raise 50 meat birds which would only take 8 to 12 weeks until process. That would provide a chicken dinner per week.

If you don't want roosters then she can't breed birds. If meat birds they shouldn't be housed with the layers and would require other housing, movable tractors work well. There will be male meat birds but age to butchering is younger than crowing. Whatever your terms are restricts what she wants to do. If it is meat birds have a limit of batch size she can do. 50 birds at a whack is a lot and with meat birds that's a lot of poop. Two batches of 25 is far more manageable and can be done over spring to fall.

I'd ask flat out what the intention of that many birds are and her plans for housing. They may or may not even have a clue what it requires. Put in writing after what your comfortable with. One thing I'd require is the use of tamper proof bait boxes with chunx bait. Far too many overlook the need to keep rodents at bay right from the start. Don't allow any other method of rodent control. They all lead to the need for poison in the end so start with it, tamper proof bait box with chunx bait and never have a problem.

Thank you for your reply. I like the idea of splitting the 50 into 2 groups of 25 over the spring-summer seasons! This is on a farmland where my hubby and I raise cattle so neighbors are far and there is some room. I just don't know how much room. She would have to build her own building and run - take it with her when she moves out or if she leaves it behind, it would automatically belong to us-no money exchange.

 

[Jocelyne]

Contrary to others who voiced their opinions here, in my opinion, the only thing you should be concerned about is the potential damage to your property. To deal with that take an open check to be cashed at the end of the lease period if damage was actually caused. Of course you will have to clearly state what you consider 'damage' as apposed to the regular wear & tear. The best thing would be to agree upon a specific arbitrator to settle any disputes.
Laws, regulations, ordinances and animal welfare are none of your concern.

Great thank you for raising that point. You do have a different point of view that I had not considered... potential damage to the property.

 

[Jocelyne]

You could always write your own agreement and have it signed in front of a notary. Just be sure to CYA on all of your terms "CYA cover your arse."

Yes I understand. Thanks

 

[Jocelyne]

Situational...I would need more information about the property, the current lease, the local laws/covenants/restrictions/etc... Bottom line is that it's your call. Knowing what kind of damage chickens can cause without the right management, I doubt that I would allow it. But if the property is rural and already has the facilities for a small flock... I had a clause in a previous lease that allowed me to inspect the property on a monthly basis...giving a minimum 12-hour notice of the inspection.

It is farmland where we raise cattle. Neighbors are far apart. Inspection is a good idea. She would have to build her own coop and run (my husband's time goes to the cattle) my current lease does not mention owning chicks that is why I am looking into writing an agreement or addendum to my lease.