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Gaited Community? Oh bless you, I am afraid I usually side with people who want their lives to be uncomplicated, quiet, predictable, and easily resold. Someday, if I'm exhausted and too sore to continue at my current pace, I'll be in one of those communities where the lawn work is done by staff, and the houses all look easy to care for and the most complicated decision I'll have to make about my home life is "which bubblebath?", not drastic changes to bylaws or regulations.
Right now, though, I live with chickens and a bunny. I have tried to "Martha Stewart" it up, but to be honest with children and my work schedule it is never "Martha Stewart" its more Paula Deen ie, fun and good with a HEALTHY DOSE of humor if it's imperfect (BOTH ladies keep chickens! Paula Deen's coop and tall run is cool, try to find it for your presentation). Actually my landscape improved because the chickens came along, requiring a white picket fence and enabling roses to grow unhindered by japanese beetles, which the chickens eat like popcorn. The lawn greened up, too; DH refers to our little flock of birds as his "professional grub diggers". So here's some photos, which you are welcome to use. I think these may illustrate healthy birds in a healthy environment with good backyard flock care (is that what you're looking for? I just love posting pictures.)
Me and my EasterEgger Donna, a 4 month old pullet who now lays pale pink eggs, she has bright turquoise blue ears but is as black as velvet night:
Our mixed Sikie/Rosecomb pullet Pat . Many people decorate their coops; since we do a lot of art with our gradeschoolers, we share copies for the birds too; here Pat perches under a Miro':
Our Rosecomb hen Rosie, foraging through the strawberry plants for green japanese beetles. Rosie is a tiny bantam but lays medium sized white eggs.
Our Silkie rooster Lieutennant Cmmdr. Worf, cheif of security here at This Old House Enterprise. Here he's come between me and the last of that glass of wine behind him:
He's a cuddler:
Silkie pair, color is called "blue", in case you want pics of feather footed friends:
Mr. Worf's son DannyBoy, mixed Rosecomb/Silkie, painting the porch railing on a muddy rainy day. He's an excellent, loving pet like his dad, and quite beautiful. He and his dad don't do a lot of crowing, but when they do its more Jose Carreras than spongebob squarepants. These male chickens are why I have to wonder why people don't accept roosters in neighborhoods? My roosters have nice visitors who like them:
This rooster was re-homed to a 4H teen who wished to breed him. He loved being read to, and was very fond of the boys and watching videos with them, just hanging out:
Here's a picture of the inside of our coop with our collection of little blue bantam chickens:
You are welcome to my photos for your presentation, and my BYC page too, but I honestly feel that a gaited community might have to keep certain restrictions, as that's how exhausted and sore people find peace in their lives, by simplifying. They may not wish for the chaos of new trends to encroach on their version of peace. I'd have to respect that.
Would you be willing to live in more than one place? Or time share with other chicken lovin' people somewhere else? Keep chickens off the gaited community property but still be the provider of chicken care and chicken love? Keep your gaited community home and keep a side home like a side job? On the other hand, sometimes chickens can work it out: I saw one Illinois news article where a HOA had 4 neighboring properties sharing one coop between them, and they had the original architects create the coop to keep in design with the properties. Just ideas. I hope the best for you and yours!
(edited to improve my o.p. re: Paula Deen. I'm a fan.)
