Got illegal chickens?

[mpathhealr]

I am an "illegal" chicken keeper. Looks to me like my local rules and regs of the city are a bit fuzzy about the keeping of chickens, and my neighbors are fine with my chickens. I grease them with a dozen here and there! The other neighbor is a truck yard, so no problem on that front. I rent, it's a duplex in a complex of individual studios in the front part of the property. I'm completely fenced, and the chicken yard and coop are in the farthest corner from the house.

Yes, EGG SONG can be loud and boisterous. The owner of this place knows about my chickens and said more about having an above ground pool than she did about the chickens. Maybe it's because I've planted fruit trees, grape vines, roses, etc. When I got in this place the yard was weeds and a giant pile of asphalt and tree branches debri. I only have 4 birds now that one of my dogs killed one chicken.

If I ever get approached about the illegal asian ground parrots in my yard, I'll give them lip service

and explain I am doing my part to increase the value of the land, thereby increasing the taxes that can be charged to the owner....

 

[orrm1234]

Sell your property and buy 5 acres zoned agricultural conservation. The hell with an HOA. I have 5 acres and all sorts of chickens. One home per 5 acres is the place to be or larger if you can aford it. I love it. I'm 90% of the time outside with my birds. Sometimes I even eat outside while I'm watching them. Neighbors are not needed these days.

 

[mpathhealr]

I can't believe that guns & religion have been brought into this.

Some people....

 

[mpathhealr]

Quote:
I would love to get 5 acres and go farm a little place. It is my dream. Yet I do not own and have nothing to sell.

I would have more chickens than now, more rabbits, a bigger garden, more fruit trees and vines, a few nut trees, a bigger pool.... and a big dog! Maybe a goat or 2.

 

[Chickenaddict]

Illegal, 38 banties, 3 chicks and 10 eggs due to hatch at the end of the month...

It started about 6 years ago maybe a bit longer, we drove around the area after we moved out here being city folks transplanted to a suburban area was quite a shock. So was seeing cute little chickens running around alot of peoples yards. We dove in head first and ordered 52 babies from mcmurrays, sadly only 27 survived and quite a few of those had to be sold. AT that time we weren't aware of any laws or ordinances prohibiting poultry. Unfortunately some folks engaged in illegal activities with their roosters if ya know what I mean and that was enough for city council to ban chickens in the area unless you meet their requirements to have at least 3 acres and coops have to be sooo many ft away from any neighbors outbuildings/houses/garages ect. We only have 1 acre. We watched the entire neighborhood get rid of their beloved backyard breakfast makers while we chose to keep ours and deal with the consiquences if and when they should arise. There is no animal control here, only the local sherriff and he waves at me while I am outside feeding the birds. They are pretty well behaved and allowed to free range during the warmer months but somehow know better then to leave the yard. All surrounding neighbors absolutely love to come visit and love the eggs!

If I were you, before diving into this potential heartbreaking situation I would go feel out the neighbors and see how they would feel about it, maybe write up a petition and have everyone sign it that has no issues with you having a few hens for pets. If the majority of your neighbors (if not all of them) don't see it as a problem I would then bring it to the HOA (the petition that is) and see if maybe you could do it legit seeing as it is just a few hens and no roosters. You should hear the egg song over here in the morning, uffdah!



Out of the 38+ banties I have here, 7 are roosters... However a few of those roosters have been here all their lives so fortunately for me they are all one big happy family with plenty of yard to roam to "keep the peace"

I truely think of my flock as "cheep therapy" and seeing as I battle severe depression, They seem to help me far better then any pill with tons of side effects...

 

[vanalpaca]

OK, just HOW NOISY is 'hen song" can anyone post a you-tube on the morning chatter a group of hens makes? I have 18 illegal chicks in the basement and 1 majorly obnoxious neighbor, you know, the kind that races his riding lawn mower by when you are weeding the garden at the property line....makes me eat dirt, he does.

I just want to get them raised up until fall so they will be sturdy enough to go to an unsupervised off site barn.....with the alpacas. I only go out there once daily and they would have to fend for themselves or have a caged area that is racoon proof.

Thanks!

 

[Chickenaddict]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdcYiAXKR58

thats just one, usually once one of mine starts the whole flock joins in

 

[Lifesong Farm]

I will be helping my friend turn into an outlaw chicken owner today. I have 2 cull pullets that I am giving her. They are currently 3 days ols so they won't be going outside for a while. She is going to build a "dog house" for them.

 

[mpathhealr]

Chicken addict wrote; I truely think of my flock as "cheep therapy" and seeing as I battle severe depression, They seem to help me far better then any pill with tons of side effects...

Good for you. I wonder if you could find a Dr. who can write a prescription for that, rather like some doctors write RX for medical marijuana!!?

I do not suffer from bad depression, but I get it now and then; my animals always help bring me out of it!

 

[vanalpaca]

I always thought the depression made me buy MORE animals!