Help! Need input for a problem with the neighbors.....

[Peep_Show]

I live in Henderson, NV, with very stringent HOA CC&R's. Amazingly, the Board has given approval of keeping "pet" chickens (and we're talking all of three hens here, folks) provided I can prove they aren't a nuisance. Easy to do... The coop plans submitted are the best looking shed in the community (it's more of a playhouse, really), the landscape trees obstruct its view from the public areas, and all of my immediate neighbors (in all directions) have signed off on the project and are really quite enthused about it.

The City of Henderson allows the keeping of chickens. However, if you're within 350 feet of another dwelling, you need a form filed with Animal Control about chicken awareness. All fine and well....I have a sheaf full of forms to submit from everyone within eyeshot and earshot... BUT one neighbor on the periphery borderline (several houses and several hundred feet away) when I approached her said "I lived next to a chicken farm in Oregon. They're dirty, messy, smelly, noisy birds. I'll have to talk to my husband about it." She took the form, turned on her heel, and I haven't heard back. Her husband, I have come to find out from assorted tales, is the known as the neighborhood jerk.. retired cop who tends to bully folks and nearly shot the neighbor's dog for barking at him.

What can I do to allay their concerns? I haven't begun my coop construction yet (a 4x5 uber-designed pristine coop for three birds) and I would hate to think that this project is shelved because 2% of the population -- who probably won't hear the birds, definitely won't smell them or be impacted by them -- is just so, well, disagreeable. Any ideas on how to sweet talk them? Everybody else and beyond is all for this project. I'm kind of crushed and perplexed as I am trying to do everything the right way and by the book and all is very positive except for this one obstacle. Who can I plead my case to?

HELP!

(And please don't glibly suggest I move because due to family and our current housing market it is not feasible at this time)

 

[srsmith69]

I assume the neighbor is within 350 feet of your house? Are the rules written that the 350 foot radius is from the coop or from your house. If from the coop, could you relocate the coop on your property so it is not within 350 feet from this neighbor. You did say the neighbor was several hundred feet away

 

[yotetrapper]

DId you explain to them that you're only getting three hens, and not a "chicken farm"? Try talking to the husband and explain he'll never even know you have the birds....

 

[LittleMamaBigPapa]

Yes, measure first, and if within 350....go follow up with them and let them know its only 3 hens and NO roosters. SMILE and pray for a positive reaction

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Is this neighbor within the 350' required by the city? If not, pay no attention to them; if they are, you need to first realize that her perception is based upon her very real experiences. Large, commercial chicken farms are smelly and disgusting. The care they provide their birds is often heartbreaking (although several states have legislated minimum care standards that make things better for the birds). What you need to do is show her that your plans are far different than her memories. Show her your coop plan, tell her about different breeds (get a copy of the book or calender Extraordinary Chickens and take it to her as a gift. If you have specific breeds that you plan to get, bring information about them, and possibly even some photos--all the better if you have chosen some of the more exotic breeds. Make sure she knows that your plan and approval is for three hens only, not the large scale operation she remembers.
You can simultaneously call and ask the city about the approval process--information gathering, as it were. Ask lots of questions, many of which you alreaduy know the answers, and when you get to the part about the chicken awaareness forms, ask what happens if one out of many neighbors is opposed or concerned. Chances are that the actual distance and the numbers of neighbors who approve versus disapprove will be taken into account. Another concern might be whether it sets any sort of precedent. I know that in my city, getting a variance approved is easier when others in the immediate neighborhood have received similar variences than if no one has--not exactly a parallel comparison, but htere are similarities.

 

[teach1rusl]

I would try again with them. Take a nice sketch of your coop over with a friendly "Hi. I just wanted to show you..." Go on about how it sounds like the wife must have grown up around farm chickens (sorry, generalizing here to passify the woman), but that your chickens are going to be pampered pet chickens (whether that's true or not)... clean, well cared for, with a coop cleaned daily. Ask if they have other concerns.
Do you HAVE to have their consent????

 

[Peep_Show]

Yes, they are within the 350 feet. Relocating the coop on the property will not change our relationship to the outlying boundary. As far as I am aware, I am the first in my area to have chickens. I do have to have their nonrevoked written consent. I suppose I could explain it is a revokable form and "just try it." I did tell her it was just three hens and pointed out it is a docile, quiet, bears-confinement-well breed. I explained to her that I would be scooping the coop daily with a weekly total cleanout. I did show her the coop plans and she was very non-interested.

The form I drafted for the City of Henderson Animal Control submittal reads: "I, a neighbor, acknowledge the presence of pet chickens at the residence of -- "Peep-Show's" home -- and consent to the same. I further understand that: (1) There will be no roosters kept on the premises; (2) The chickens will be confined at all times to coop and run and will not be loose in the yard nor free to roam the neighborhood; (3) The coop and run will at all times be kept clean and free from offensive odor; (4) The hens contained in the coop will be a selected breed known to be docile, quiet and bearing confinement well to keep the noise level down. I am aware that hens may upon laying an egg during daylight hours cackle, baw-cok or make other verbal announcement of their acheivement; (5) Should there be any perceive yet unrecognized problem arising from the presence of these chickens, I will contact the owner(s) first to attempt resolution."



I'm thinking contacting Animal Control about the regs is an excellent idea as a general inquiry. AC, unfortunately, does know who this lady's husband is because there was a big hullaballoo when he pulled the gun on the neighbor's dog and they spent about an hour trying to mediate as the retired cop said the neighbor's dog was vicious (SO NOT TRUE!). Too, dragging my husband along for a meet-and-greet pow-wow will probably be my next discussion with them. But she strikes me as somebody who digs her heels in deep. (Frankly, having experienced her deameanor and heard of his, I'd say they were made for each other.) I can only but try; right?

It's just that we've come so far with this project to have it slammed down like this..... I'm sad, really. I mean, I may not necessarily enjoy cats, but I don't begrudge my neighbors having them. I don't know how much more compliant I could be as to making it a likable project...especially since she's not even closeby. And, yes, I share fresh eggs.

As a side note, I took my DH along to a chicken coop tour last weekend as he isn't so poultry savvy. When a hen was in the box laying an egg, I pointed out to him that was what the egg-laying noise was. He said, "Is that it? That's nothing. I thought it'd be like sirens or something."

 

[19hhbelgian]

I pointed out to him that was what the egg-laying noise was. He said, "Is that it? That's nothing. I thought it'd be like sirens or something."

Too much!

Did you highlight the point that the agreement is a REVOCABLE form, to your neighbor? If you don't go back to them, they will never get back to you, I'm sure. When you talk with them, try to use "leading" language in order to get them to go along with what you're proposing... "Well, we are either getting the chickens or a dog. Now, the breed my family has decided to get is known to bark... A lot. BUT, the 3 hens are always going to be in the coop, and you'll most likely never even know they're there. I guess it's up to you which we get, a loud obnoxious barking dog, or 3 quiet little hens. Which do you prefer?" Obviously not this exact conversation

but hopefully you get what I'm trying to say. Let them know that their second choice is much worse than 3 quiet little hens they will never see, and most likely never hear... If they choose the dog, get a recording and play it... A LOT

Honestly though, leading questions get you where you want to go pretty frequently.​

 

[Peep_Show]

Here's the funny part to that.... I have two of the biggest dogs in the neighborhood! (200 lbs. total) Our neighbors are REALLY surprised when they see them because they NEVER hear them (St. Bernard cross and a rescue Greyhound). Moreover, they love them because there's never any break-ins in our neck of the neighborhood. They know if the big dog barks, listen. Of course, two streets back there's a 9 lb. nonstop yappet and up the street and over a screaming parrot. (Actually, there are a couple of parrots in the neighborhood).

I concur that leading questions are the way to go.... Care to pose a scenario or two with the info given? (oh, and not threatening with dogs... This guy doesn't do intimidation)

I'd love any pointers down the gilded path....

 

[horsejody]

Maybe you will get lucky and they won't respond at all. Then you can say to the authorities, "I notified all of the neighbors in writing and gave them a questionaire. Here are all of the ones that responded. There is one neighbor that didn't respond nor did he voice an objection, so I assume that he has no objection. JMHO