grumpy neighbor, looking for info

[meredithelaine]

I looked up the rules here in Portland and I can have up to 3 birds without a permit, and I actually heard that they're working on changing that number to 4. I'm only planning on having 2.

I just got a text from my neighbor saying she's concerned about chickens going in there because it will be noisy and too close to their patio. (It's true, my plan is for the chicken yard to abut the fence between our property.)

It looks like I can do whatever I want, but I do want to keep the peace. So, I have two questions:
1 -- How noisy are your backyard chickens?
2 -- Does your city have laws about how far your chicken yard needs to be from the property line? If so, how far?

There's more to the story. Neighbor is grumpy because I removed the dead trees between our property, but that doesn't matter much.

 

[Jennc-123]

They can be noisy. We occasionally gave eggs to our neighbors as a peace offering. Never did get our permit for 6 chickens

 

[Kdlevesque]

A lot of people think only boys are noisy but my hens can be very noisy from time to time especially when one lays an egg. Only one of my neighbors have complained because she said she heard my rooster crowing all the time but I don’t even own a rooster... ha ha!

 

[Vickischics]

I don't own a rooster either but, if a pullet needs attention or wants privacy to lay her egg, she can/will cluck loudly. But, too bad for your grumpy neighbor. I guess you could offer eggs later on of you choose or offer a peace treaty choice!
Would you rather listen to a few female chickens cluck every so often or should I get a little yappy dog? Lol
(My brother has a vocal Jack Russell and I once had a lil barking Mini Dachshund! Lol
I say give him a choice. If he is smart, I know which one he will pick.
If you get a barker that barks all day, legally....there is not much he/she could do esp if it barks during the day and it's on your property.
I vote chickens!!!!
Which do you vote?
Chickens or Dog?
Lol

 

[rosemarythyme]

My county rules are pretty lax on chickens (I could have 1000s legally), but even then we still have a 10' setback from property lines.

Hens can get loud but they're generally not consistently noisy. Egg songs can get loud. Morning "feed me!" screeches can get loud. Otherwise mine are pretty quiet. But I can hear my girls egg songs carried down the creek from a few houses over, and we're on acreage.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Where I am the rules are pretty lax as well. I can legally have "as many as can be properly housed and cared for without creating a health hazard or nuisance to the keeper or neighbors"

There's the rub....that nuisance word...

Here if a dog is barking even in the day and neighbors complain they site you. Enough citations and the critter has to go.

While my hens DO sing that egg song, complain about random things and chew me out on occasion it never lasts long.

I own a coon hound too. SHE can get rather annoying as she is on constant watch for shifty stuff going on......and there is A LOT of shifty apparently.

 

[Vickischics]

That's terrible! If neighbors complain and you get too many citations you have to get rid of your dog!
What if people talk to loud on their porch or they're kids make too much noice yelling and screaming while playing. I guess they need to go too?
Wow!

 

[ValerieLovesChickens]

I looked up the rules here in Portland and I can have up to 3 birds without a permit, and I actually heard that they're working on changing that number to 4. I'm only planning on having 2.

I just got a text from my neighbor saying she's concerned about chickens going in there because it will be noisy and too close to their patio. (It's true, my plan is for the chicken yard to abut the fence between our property.)

It looks like I can do whatever I want, but I do want to keep the peace. So, I have two questions:
1 -- How noisy are your backyard chickens?
2 -- Does your city have laws about how far your chicken yard needs to be from the property line? If so, how far?

There's more to the story. Neighbor is grumpy because I removed the dead trees between our property, but that doesn't matter much.

Honestly, with everyone complaining about everything these days, if it's not the chickens it will be something else eventually. Its your property, your home, I say do what makes you happy. I would also suggest 3 hens, in the event something happens to 1, so it won't be lonely. They don't survive well or for very long, without a friend. Also eggs as a peace offering, ahead of the chickens arrival might help? Honestly the loudest noise is only going to happen when they are hungry, or laying an egg. They should have food available 24/7 anyway, so that alleviates that issue. Just tell them luckily there will not be any rooster! LoL

 

[Vickischics]

I also agree with the 3 if not 4.
Just in case. The workload is the same. Still have to feed, water and clean poop. But, its well worth it. They bring such joy and you will Love it.

 

[Willow2253]

Chickens can be noisy, but if the neighbor is far enough away they may not even notice. When I lived in the city my neighbor had chickens agains our shared fence and I didn’t even know until one escaped and ended up in my yard. We had a good sized yard so the patio was probably 20-30 feet from the fence. They shouldn’t be constantly squawking all day anyways if you’re keeping them right, a lot of the noises they make are pretty quiet, and as other people have said it’s better than having a dog that barks all day. I also used to have a neighbor with a dog that would bark 24/7 and I much prefer the chickens.
Also in Portland as long as your setup is more than 15 feet from THEIR house then you’re all good legally.
I’m glad I moved out of Portland, now I can have as many birds as I want AND roosters.
They may just need reassurance or the occasional egg bribe. Hopefully there’s no real problems with them over this.