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Unfortunately, I have to agree with you, particularly in a "golf course community". When you live in a hoity-toity community like that, having livestock is never, ever allowed. Simple-living country folks like us, who like to grow our own food and raise our own poultry, and "hoity-toity" communities do not go hand-in-hand. Never have, never will. The reason people buy in those communities is so they will never, ever have to put up with clucking chickens, barking dogs, cow smells, horse flies, etc.
Sadly, I agree, though... if the HOA rules say you can't have them, and you're in an area such as you are, you shouldn't have gotten them. But now that you have them, you have three recourses: A) Sell off your flock; B) see if you can rent a little piece of land from someone outside of your community for raising your chickens; or C) move to a place where they are allowed.
If I were one of those people who enjoyed living in such a community (and I am not), and I paid half a million bucks for my house and $300-$500 a month in HOA fees to live in a pristine community, I'd be mad as all get out if one of my neighbors put chickens in their yard. You gotta understand where your neighbors are coming from, and you'll have to sell your flock, move it to another location, or move out yourselves, as stated above.
I do not mean to be blunt or be the bearer of bad news, but sometimes, it is what it is. You may be able to get city ordinances changed and what-not, but HOAs are a whole different beast all together. I'm sorry to hear you're going through this. I hope you can find someone that will rent/lease you a small parcel of land for your chicken ark.
Unfortunately, I have to agree with you, particularly in a "golf course community". When you live in a hoity-toity community like that, having livestock is never, ever allowed. Simple-living country folks like us, who like to grow our own food and raise our own poultry, and "hoity-toity" communities do not go hand-in-hand. Never have, never will. The reason people buy in those communities is so they will never, ever have to put up with clucking chickens, barking dogs, cow smells, horse flies, etc.
Sadly, I agree, though... if the HOA rules say you can't have them, and you're in an area such as you are, you shouldn't have gotten them. But now that you have them, you have three recourses: A) Sell off your flock; B) see if you can rent a little piece of land from someone outside of your community for raising your chickens; or C) move to a place where they are allowed.
If I were one of those people who enjoyed living in such a community (and I am not), and I paid half a million bucks for my house and $300-$500 a month in HOA fees to live in a pristine community, I'd be mad as all get out if one of my neighbors put chickens in their yard. You gotta understand where your neighbors are coming from, and you'll have to sell your flock, move it to another location, or move out yourselves, as stated above.
I do not mean to be blunt or be the bearer of bad news, but sometimes, it is what it is. You may be able to get city ordinances changed and what-not, but HOAs are a whole different beast all together. I'm sorry to hear you're going through this. I hope you can find someone that will rent/lease you a small parcel of land for your chicken ark.
