Got illegal chickens?

[AprilWC]

I believe I would do it. Bantams would definitely be the way to go, though. The less like a chicken they appear, the better. lol 3 little hens that are kept out of sight wouldn't bother most people. Just avoid roosters.

 

[obaan1]

I vote for "try it anyway" especially with a privacy fence.

 

[Urban Chaos]

A friend of mine is in a similar situation, so far nobody has noticed/complained. She does have a plan as to where to re-home the chickens if it ever becomes an issue. Good Luck.

 

[peep-a-boo]

Yea!!! My hope's been restored and I'm happy again.

Thanks everyone! I will have to grow some hedges to help hide the darlings and come up with a plan B just in case.

We don't really socialize with our neighbors, although we're all very neighborly.

 

[ranchhand]

Go for it, but be aware you may have to rehome them. It's hard to deal with when that happens.

As another poster said, hens get LOUD when they are thinking about laying, are fixin' to lay, have laid, someone else laid an egg, somebody glanced at a nest box.......My roosters are quieter than my hens.

 

[babylady4]

I have illegal call ducks...... since they cannot be used for anything other than a pet I believe I am within the ordinance. The city states one cannot own livestock or animals raised for profit..... I think under that ordinance the local dog breeders need to give up breeding their dogs since they would fall under this........

 

[tanababy]

I have 3 "illegal" chickens. I have had them for 1 year. I went and talked to 4 the neighbors that are closest to my house (2 very close -bedroom window 20 feet from chicken coop) before I made the commitment. Everyone was nice about it. One was worried about the noise. I assured wouldn't be louder than the crazy dogs that bark all day and night. I have had no problems so far. We have a fence all around and is pretty private. HOWEVER, my chickens are very very loud.......from when the sun comes up to when the sun goes down. There is really no hiding that I have chickens. My neighbors have just not reported me to the HOA. I say go for it. Research a quiet breed and run it by any neighbor that would be close enough to hear them. It would be very hard for me to get rid of my chickens now. So if some one turned me in I would be sad, so I am glad I talked to my closest neighbors first. Good luck!!

 

[dandelionheart]

My neighbors are fine... we have 2 1/3 acres and they get free eggs, no roosters, and they bring the kids over to see/pet them. No money making operation or crazy hoarding. They are pets, not livestock. And an ordinance just means you have to pay a hefty fine (at least in our town), not "illegal" really, not a misdemeanor or felony. Kinda like letting your lawn get over 8" or whatever.

But, we *do* have friends around in the country for plan B. Plan B would be to temporarily rehome them and then resume the fight to destroy that stupid ordinance. It is also against ordinance to top trees and yet the electric and phone companies do that *regularly* to the visual detriment of our town.

 

[Frannabelle]

An old Gentleman, 92 years old, in Milford MI is defying the town council and getting his chickens. He has many supporters, and is quoting the Michigan Right to Farm Act.

http://www.hometownlife.com/article...play-chicken-local-ordinance?odyssey=nav|head


My Grandfather knew this man, so that makes it even a bit nicer!

 

[Country Parson]

Go go Archie, go!