HOA says no outdoor structure....

[Hamptons06]

Can I house chickens in a coop in my garage?

I assume I would set up a chicken run outside for when they're out there. How can I do this? The garage is 2 car and half the doors are glass.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Of course you can build cages for them inside the garage. Worst case scenario is to cover the glass with reflective film or install curtains. The real question you need to ask is whether your HOA has any covenants against farm animals, poultry or chickens (specifically).

 

[Hamptons06]

Quote:
Nope. Mentions things like no pit bulls or pot belly pigs.....

Nothing about fowl or birds or anything.

 

[Marbleheader]

Check out the stealth coop!

http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Chicken-Coops/The-Stealth-Coop-p493.aspx

Could this sneak under the radar?

 

[PortageGirl]

Well, you can bet by the time you get yours, there WILL be a covenant against them. I had a friend who lived in one of 'THOSE' kinds of neighborhoods and everytime someone did something someone disapproved of, they wrote a new rule against it.

You better get set up on the down low, and be sure no one catches on till you're all set up. Then they'll have a hard time forcing you to get rid of them.

As far as the garage set up goes, just keep in mind that chickens are dusty. Openinings into the garage part will allow dust to filter in on the car, and possibly into the house if it's attatched. It's only a real problem when they're molting, and especially when they're young and growing new feathers to replace their fluff is when it's the worst. Later molts are much easier to deal with but still a bit dusty.

 

[Hamptons06]

Quote:
There's a girl down the end of the street who has a big mallard duck.... everyone knows she has it and it's no big deal, so I'm thinking this won't be a problem as long as we stay within the structural guidelines. I've seen the duck sitting on their front lawn.

Another thing is we have a separate housing that is a "shed". It's fully electric, heat etc and I've been using it mostly for holding my arts and crafts stuff and homeschooling things (see pic below). I could very possibly use a large part of that for them as well (ep considering it's huge, like 20x15 inside).

We don't park in the garage... weird I know and it's not full of stuff either. It's rather neat and clean. LOL

 

[Hamptons06]

Quote:
That's pretty cool! look small though.... I don't imagine we'd have more than 2-3 chicks anyway, but isn't that what everyone says until they own them??

 

[Toast n Jelly]

Quote:
There's a girl down the end of the street who has a big mallard duck.... everyone knows she has it and it's no big deal, so I'm thinking this won't be a problem as long as we stay within the structural guidelines. I've seen the duck sitting on their front lawn.

Another thing is we have a separate housing that is a "shed". It's fully electric, heat etc and I've been using it mostly for holding my arts and crafts stuff and homeschooling things (see pic below). I could very possibly use a large part of that for them as well (ep considering it's huge, like 20x15 inside).

We don't park in the garage... weird I know and it's not full of stuff either. It's rather neat and clean. LOL

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s194/SHampton06/Family 2008/house-3.jpg

That is one gorgeous shed and of course you can put them in there..You both would have plenty of room especially if they have a run with a pop door to be out most of the time.

 

[Hamptons06]

Quote:
The cool thing is there's a side double door that opens the whole side of the shed.... like if you were keeping a riding lawn mower in the shed YK? So, I think if I had a run on that left side where the doors are it would def work.

Thanks for the brainstorming!

 

[Chickenmaven]

Amazingly cute "shed" (uhm...palace...).

Perhaps you could build a fence off one side and cover it with lattice - super charming - and no one would see your chickens?
Good luck.