I Live on the 11th floor, do chickens have suicidal tendencies?

[Henry&Friends]

Oh man... This reminds me... I lived in an apartment building for a while and the downstairs neighbors were always complaining about stuff falling down from our balcony to theirs, or rain water dripping onto their laundry, or cooking smells, or noise... I can only imagine chicken poop sludge dripping on somebody's stuff or the noise complaints! The thing with apartment buildings is that, with so many people crammed in them, it's extremely unlikely you'll get along with everybody. There will always be that one person who will complain about everything, and chickens will just give them SO many more reasons to complain, or even get you kicked out!

I live in a house with no houses on either side. There’s two houses across the street, and a few trailer/houses diagonal and going up the street. My yard is large, the houses going up the street have large yards, and one of the houses across the street has a large yard. My chickens free range, and visit their yards.
I have never had a conversation with any of my neighbors. (I’m a bit of an introvert) I leave cartons of eggs on my neighbors porches (as a “sorry for my dumb birds”) and they leave empty egg cartons on my porch (presumably meaning “it’s aight”) if anyone has complained, they haven’t complained to me, so I assume it’s alright.
everyone on my street has a house, and can get away from the smell (which I’m pretty sure only exists in my yard, but I do try and get a good sniff from the street just to be sure) noise, and general mayhem of my chickens. The guineas not so much, but if anyone complains to me about them they’re SOL because guineas are a-holes... in an apartment situation I’m certain my chickens would make it three days tops. An apartment is unlike a house because at 11 stories up, it’s not like you can just chase the chickens to the other side of your yard. Apartments, from what I’ve heard, can be pretty cramped and stuffy. I wouldn’t make someone, on top of living in an apartment, live in an apartment with chickens on the porch next door/upstairs. i wouldn’t want to live in an apartment with chickens on my porch, either.

and the more I think about it, the more I’m convinced that’s gotta be a health code violation or a biohazard or something. I think there’s a rule about dealing with livestock waste and preventing runoff. Seems like something the CDC would be keeping an eye on. Especially with the coronavirus concerns going on right now, I wouldn’t consider keeping livestock/poultry within a city.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

I don't know! I don't see how it's much different. Sure, it's higher up but all the principles are the same and the chickens won't care about elevation

If a balcony is 3x6, one could build a small chicken house for 2 chickens, build up a dirt, wood ship, straw, whatever floor, enclose the balcony, and live happily ever after

At least in my theory

I don't recall the OP saying anything about enclosing the balcony. Sounded like they wanted to put chickens up there and hope they didn't fall to their death. Seems like an awfully silly thing to do, but to each their own I guess.

 

[K0k0shka]

Yeah, apartment living is already asking a lot of the residents. They can't get away, they're stuck there with everybody cramped around them. It wouldn't be fair to the neighbors. And yeah, I would be HIGHLY surprised (shocked, actually) if livestock were allowed in an apartment building at all. It's not like your pet parrot or bunny. Chickens are just... more rural than that, in their requirements and lifestyle.

 

[Lisa-Lu]

I have to wonder if the OP isn't setting back laughing at what a ruckus they have caused or if they were actually serious? But in all seriousness, I strongly advise against this, and like others, I am sure it wouldnt be allowed by the landlord anyway.

 

[Lisa-Lu]

I don't recall the OP saying anything about enclosing the balcony. Sounded like they wanted to put chickens up there and hope they didn't fall to their death. Seems like an awfully silly thing to do, but to each their own I guess.

Exaclty, it wasn't implied that the chickens would have any kind of barrier, let alone a coop.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Yeah, apartment living is already asking a lot of the residents. They can't get away, they're stuck there with everybody cramped around them. It wouldn't be fair to the neighbors. And yeah, I would be HIGHLY surprised (shocked, actually) if livestock were allowed in an apartment building at all. It's not like your pet parrot or bunny. Chickens are just... more rural than that, in their requirements and lifestyle.

Having lived in a townhouse with a neighbor separated from my unit by a unit in between I can attest to parrots being able to be shockingly loud.
Yeah that whole period of time was miserable. I had young kids needing naps and a shrieking parrot never shutting up two doors down.

 

[K0k0shka]

Having lived in a townhouse with a neighbor separated from my unit by a unit in between I can attest to parrots being able to be shockingly loud.
Yeah that whole period of time was miserable. I had young kids needing naps and a shrieking parrot never shutting up two doors down.

Nothing beats a dog though. The upstairs neighbor had a dog with separation anxiety and a LOT of lung capacity, and he would start howling to the moon at 6 in the morning when she left for work. But dogs aren't banned from (most) apartment buildings, and I think neither are parrots, even though they're loud... People need pets... But chickens are pushing it, because they come with so many more issues as well, besides the noise. That's why I live in a house now, with a large yard. Apartments drive me nuts. But not everybody has the luxury of making that decision.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Nothing beats a dog though. The upstairs neighbor had a dog with separation anxiety and a LOT of lung capacity, and he would start howling to the moon at 6 in the morning when she left for work. But dogs aren't banned from (most) apartment buildings, and I think neither are parrots, even though they're loud... People need pets... But chickens are pushing it, because they come with so many more issues as well, besides the noise. That's why I live in a house now, with a large yard. Apartments drive me nuts. But not everybody has the luxury of making that decision.

So true. Even being a homeowner we don't get to choose the neighbors. When I bought this house I had 2 big well behaved dogs that were NEVER left outside at night or when I was gone. The neighbor on the other hand had 2 outside only beagles. I was relieved when they moved.

 

[ColoradoPip]

Where is Steve!?!? We must know if he has learned if it is legal!!

Inquiring minds want to know!!!

 

[Tortoise]

I say no don't go for it. However I like my animals to have a good life not an okay like that likely could be deadly by a means they know nothing about. Not at all natural for a chicken to live on a balcony or 11 floors up!