Our first illegal alien, an OEG bantam, was a sick, helpless stray, who was tossed out when somebody moved. Yep, the middle of Cleveland, Ohio. I could hardly leave her to fend for herself, so sighed and did the right thing. Now, nobody wants a sick chicken to add to their flock, and I've know of flocks "not being too nice" to a single newcomer. So, like it or not, she was ours. We had her for 7 years, and I still miss her--Emily had sweet and entertaining personality to spare! After Em, I will NEVER live anywhere that I cannot have chickens, for the rest of my life. We may now legally keep 4 hens, no roos, with a permit, but siting is unnecessarily restrictive, so we just continue the way we were--privacy fencing hides them from all but the next-door neighbors, and we try to be considerate of each other. My three little bantams don't lay enough eggs to go around, so we just encourage the children (of the next-door neighbors ONLY--No sense broadcasting....) to come meet them, and send them home with a tiny egg to make for breakfast, if the parents consent (some parents have salmonella phobias.) We ask children and adults to not tell others about our girls, because some kids are mean, and may want to hurt them when we are not home.
1. First and foremost, have a solid re-homing plan, for the sake of your charges.
2. Develop "casual comments" to drop if your neighbors mention them and look less than pleased:
"I really wanted (another?) dog, but I was worried the barking would disturb the neighbors, so I settled for these...."
"A 4-H project"
"My niece developed allergies, and was so heartbroken that I said I'd keep them for her..."
"Yes, I was told they are legal, as long as there are no roosters, and only (4? 3?) girls" (Sounds less "farm-y" than "hens") They may not bother to check...
"Science class incubation project, and the farmer backed out...now I'm Sooooooo attached to them....."
"Chickens are so CLEAN when they're kept properly!"
"I've always wanted a parrot, but they SCREAM and annoy the neighbors, so I got these"
Emphasize how SWEET they are, and how ATTACHED you and your family are to them. Signals that they are of emotional import to you, and you would take a dim view of interference.
"I wish I could have more (avoid word "flock") of them, but I want to be sure to keep it reasonable..."
"They keep the yard free of bugs, without spraying poisons..."
3. Keep your neighbors from BECOMING displeased:
Assume the best of them. Smile, and share your enthusiasm, even if they look at you like you have two heads. Don't seize up--act like you EXPECT them to be fine with it. After all, you're not bothering them....
Keep a NICE-looking coop.
No smell, no flies! Keep it clean, keep FOOD-GRADE diatomaceous earth down to control flies, if necessary. Shouldn't be necessary if your accommodations are good.
FENCE your coop and run on ALL sides, top, and bottom, to avoid conflict with neighbor children, dogs, and cats. Keep it neat and attractive, if visible AT ALL.
Privacy fencing is a definite plus--not flaunting your chickens contributes to a "well, it's THEIR property" philosophy. Privacy fencing forms a psychological barrier zone.
Keep to a SMALL number!!! Three is a cute few pets, 5 or more sounds like an expanding operation.
Keep bantams. So SMALL!! Aren't they cute? Some people won't even recognize them as chickens!
Keep quiet breeds. OEG's are adorable, but talkative.
Consider silkies. They don't look like chickens, and children and most women are enthralled with fluffy things. Always CALL it a Silkie, a bird, avoid "a chicken."
Keep your feed properly stored so that you don't attract rodents--rodents will push GOOD neighbors over the edge.
I have never had to lie to or try to manipulate my neighbors, thankfully. I'm NOT good at that. Our city has bigger fish to fry than three bantam hens in a fenced yard. If neighbors didn't complain, even crowing went ignored. I couldn't have "gotten away with this" in the suburbs, where everybody's business is to keep the place enforceably upscale and trendy. Well, maybe one or two silkies....but only if I encouraged the neighbor toddlers and children to visit and enjoy their presence. (Always help the children WASH THEIR HANDS after handling chickens or eggs, IN FRONT OF THE PARENTS!!!!! Otherwise, as soon as a child gets a virus, the parents will panic and think salmonella!)
As to "the law, obey, etc...." If a law is based on sound reason, good. No tigers, venomous snakes, alligators or anacondas. No large flocks, unkempt coops, etc.. Some laws MUST be FLOUTED: Runaway slave laws, etc...---Thank you, Quakers and others..... Some quietly bent by people with exceptional interests, but only if nothing and nobody are hurt in the process, because some ordinances are passed through bias and ignorance. One of our local politicians actually said to news media (and I quote) "chicken ---- attracts rats." Now, rats eat a lot of things, but normally it's human garbage, NOT high-nitrogen chicken poop. I was not profiting by ignoring the ordinance, I was rescuing a vulnerable sentient creature. I was keeping quiet, clean pets on my own property, with no health risks or unpleasantness to my neighbors. I consider my dogs to be a bigger imposition than my bantams, even though I bring them in as soon as they bark.
Moderation in all things. A few little well-cared for birds will not ruin the neighborhood!
Last resort--A silkie INSIDE your home will hardly come to the attention of authorities, if it came to it. No outdoor coop to complain about, little notice by neighbors--you'll just be the "crazy chicken lady/man." There are worse things.
1. First and foremost, have a solid re-homing plan, for the sake of your charges.
2. Develop "casual comments" to drop if your neighbors mention them and look less than pleased:
"I really wanted (another?) dog, but I was worried the barking would disturb the neighbors, so I settled for these...."
"A 4-H project"
"My niece developed allergies, and was so heartbroken that I said I'd keep them for her..."
"Yes, I was told they are legal, as long as there are no roosters, and only (4? 3?) girls" (Sounds less "farm-y" than "hens") They may not bother to check...
"Science class incubation project, and the farmer backed out...now I'm Sooooooo attached to them....."
"Chickens are so CLEAN when they're kept properly!"
"I've always wanted a parrot, but they SCREAM and annoy the neighbors, so I got these"
Emphasize how SWEET they are, and how ATTACHED you and your family are to them. Signals that they are of emotional import to you, and you would take a dim view of interference.
"I wish I could have more (avoid word "flock") of them, but I want to be sure to keep it reasonable..."
"They keep the yard free of bugs, without spraying poisons..."
3. Keep your neighbors from BECOMING displeased:
Assume the best of them. Smile, and share your enthusiasm, even if they look at you like you have two heads. Don't seize up--act like you EXPECT them to be fine with it. After all, you're not bothering them....
Keep a NICE-looking coop.
No smell, no flies! Keep it clean, keep FOOD-GRADE diatomaceous earth down to control flies, if necessary. Shouldn't be necessary if your accommodations are good.
FENCE your coop and run on ALL sides, top, and bottom, to avoid conflict with neighbor children, dogs, and cats. Keep it neat and attractive, if visible AT ALL.
Privacy fencing is a definite plus--not flaunting your chickens contributes to a "well, it's THEIR property" philosophy. Privacy fencing forms a psychological barrier zone.
Keep to a SMALL number!!! Three is a cute few pets, 5 or more sounds like an expanding operation.
Keep bantams. So SMALL!! Aren't they cute? Some people won't even recognize them as chickens!
Keep quiet breeds. OEG's are adorable, but talkative.
Consider silkies. They don't look like chickens, and children and most women are enthralled with fluffy things. Always CALL it a Silkie, a bird, avoid "a chicken."
Keep your feed properly stored so that you don't attract rodents--rodents will push GOOD neighbors over the edge.
I have never had to lie to or try to manipulate my neighbors, thankfully. I'm NOT good at that. Our city has bigger fish to fry than three bantam hens in a fenced yard. If neighbors didn't complain, even crowing went ignored. I couldn't have "gotten away with this" in the suburbs, where everybody's business is to keep the place enforceably upscale and trendy. Well, maybe one or two silkies....but only if I encouraged the neighbor toddlers and children to visit and enjoy their presence. (Always help the children WASH THEIR HANDS after handling chickens or eggs, IN FRONT OF THE PARENTS!!!!! Otherwise, as soon as a child gets a virus, the parents will panic and think salmonella!)
As to "the law, obey, etc...." If a law is based on sound reason, good. No tigers, venomous snakes, alligators or anacondas. No large flocks, unkempt coops, etc.. Some laws MUST be FLOUTED: Runaway slave laws, etc...---Thank you, Quakers and others..... Some quietly bent by people with exceptional interests, but only if nothing and nobody are hurt in the process, because some ordinances are passed through bias and ignorance. One of our local politicians actually said to news media (and I quote) "chicken ---- attracts rats." Now, rats eat a lot of things, but normally it's human garbage, NOT high-nitrogen chicken poop. I was not profiting by ignoring the ordinance, I was rescuing a vulnerable sentient creature. I was keeping quiet, clean pets on my own property, with no health risks or unpleasantness to my neighbors. I consider my dogs to be a bigger imposition than my bantams, even though I bring them in as soon as they bark.
Moderation in all things. A few little well-cared for birds will not ruin the neighborhood!
Last resort--A silkie INSIDE your home will hardly come to the attention of authorities, if it came to it. No outdoor coop to complain about, little notice by neighbors--you'll just be the "crazy chicken lady/man." There are worse things.
Last edited:
