Thanks for the encouragement and support (that's what I love about this forum) everyone! Danz, my story sounds similar to your weeding story. I was trying to clean up limbs from the back yard that perpetually fall out of my walnut tree (hate that tree) and putting them in the front yard to be bundled and put to the curb for yard waste pick up. Apparently some passer-by must have thought I was just building a brush pile in the front yard and called in to complain, I get in trouble for trying to clean up my yard... in what world is that even fair? The permit is only $50, but I get the feeling that it's pointless to apply for it. Not enough people on my side of the issue that it would get any city councilman unelected for opposing. But, you are right, if I don't at least try I'm letting other people dictate what I can and can't do. All for the sake of -oh my gosh, what will this do to real estate values if there be hens in the neighborhood! Wish I was in the position to just pick up and move to the country, but I'm not.
It seems to me if the permits are available that what you need to do is present your case. Show your coop isn't an eye sore, that your immediate neighbors don't mind the chickens, that they are not dirty or smelly or noisy and that it isn't ruining the neighborhood. There is more and more movement to people having back yard chickens which works in your favor.
I am just so tired of people trying to rule other people's lives. My yard is a mess but it's mostly because there's always a million projects going on. I must admit my DH wasn't quite so bad when we lived in town because the city was always watching. I keep hoping some day to get things organized where things can be kept indoors and worked on instead of having things out in the yard.
It sounds like excuses but there are only so many hours in a day.
Yesterday I really didn't do much. I replaced all the parts on my old clothes dryer so I could sell it. But I have no way to plug it in and test it now. I also took out a defrost timer from an older upright freezer and researched until I found new old stock to replace it. Hopefully it will get here soon and I can get that sold too. I bought a new dryer and a new freezer so I just need to sell these older ones. They both worked but needed tweeks. I just needed a dryer with larger capacity to go with a big capacity washer I got a year ago.
The defrost timer on the freezer would periodically stick, so to be safe I just bought a newer larger capacity one. I had ordered a couple of hogs and needed the space. I don't need this stuff sitting around here when I can potentially get some $$ from it.
I personally believe my problems aren't so much from chemicals as they are from too many antibiotics when I was younger. I have never been very healthy.
I came from a pretty poor family and most of our food came from our own garden other than the meat that they bought. They didn't use hormones in meat back then like they do now. You can't fix what is broken, but I rarely take antibiotics now unless I have to. If there is any natural cures I always try them first.
At any rate I don't have to worry about chemical sprays around here and I'm very thankful.
We got some more rain during the night. I don't think very much, but it was some. If the bugs don't kill the rest of my garden it actually might produce a little yet. Now that I've blocked my veggie eating rabbit from the garden I'm looking forward to getting some tomatoes again.
)) super excited 
