ISO Chicken Friendly Lease Option

[mapurcel]

Hi all,

My boyfriend and I are moving to the area south of Boston from my family's home in CT. We currently have 9 bantam chickens. Naturally I want to take my flock with me. The thing is... I'm unsure of how to go about finding a new home that is chicken friendly! There isn't exactly a "chicken friendly" button on Zillow. XD

I need a yard and would be willing to build a small coop and run myself. I know craigslist is an option but I'd love to go through a more official channel since I am very new to renting.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Thank you!

 

[Kusanar]

This might be better in your state thread (where you are looking to lease), more people would be able to answer. I would also check into the rules and regulations of the area for chickens to see what is and is not allowed. I would also look for pet friendly leases and then confirm with the owner if chickens would be ok once you know exactly what you will need in terms of yard to legally have them. I know where i live I'm allowed up to 10 but they have to be a certain distance from other houses etc so the size and shape of the yard is very important.

 

[mapurcel]

Thank you! Do you lease? You may not live in the same state but i'd love to know what method you used. Did you use a realtor or a website?

 

[Kusanar]

Thank you! Do you lease? You may not live in the same state but i'd love to know what method you used. Did you use a realtor or a website?

Sorry, no, I don't, I bought my place. But that's what I would do if I were trying to find a new place for any livestock (chickens count)

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Does anyone have any ideas?

First you NEED to get a certificate of health for everyone in your flock from the vet.. BEFORE importing/exporting poultry across state lines.. or at LEAST check the Massachusetts livestock regulations and laws.. each state has their own requirements.. and the testing is in place to help protect our national food supply chain.

After that.. Google up what you're looking for..

Craigslist, Local classified ads in whatever their news rag is called,..

rent.com, apartments.com, trulia.com, rentals.com, etc..

In bigger cities, they often have little free magazines by grocery/convenience store doors that include tons of rentals.. essentially advertisements.

I've also used realtors who do rentals in addition to sales..

Be VERY careful about renting via just photos even IF the person seems okay.. They won't tell you about the smells or the type of neighbors. One place we rented had beautiful new floors.. but the underfloor smell wasn't handled and was moldy nasty rotten.. homes in different locations might have different challenges.. talking with someone familiar with the ins and out such as a realtor or rental agency (these are huge resources) can be really helpful.

Or maybe BYC will do ya even better than that! It wasn't around during my moving days.. and I didn't do chickens back then either. But it sure has been a wonderful resource for me since then!

Moving is a challenge. Hang in there, and I hope you find the perfect home to accommodate your little group!

 

[mapurcel]

First you NEED to get a certificate of health for everyone in your flock from the vet.. BEFORE importing/exporting poultry across state lines.. or at LEAST check the Massachusetts livestock regulations and laws.. each state has their own requirements.. and the testing is in place to help protect our national food supply chain.

After that.. Google up what you're looking for..

Craigslist, Local classified ads in whatever their news rag is called,..

rent.com, apartments.com, trulia.com, rentals.com, etc..

In bigger cities, they often have little free magazines by grocery/convenience store doors that include tons of rentals.. essentially advertisements.

I've also used realtors who do rentals in addition to sales..

Be VERY careful about renting via just photos even IF the person seems okay.. They won't tell you about the smells or the type of neighbors. One place we rented had beautiful new floors.. but the underfloor smell wasn't handled and was moldy nasty rotten.. homes in different locations might have different challenges.. talking with someone familiar with the ins and out such as a realtor or rental agency (these are huge resources) can be really helpful.

Or maybe BYC will do ya even better than that! It wasn't around during my moving days.. and I didn't do chickens back then either. But it sure has been a wonderful resource for me since then!

Moving is a challenge. Hang in there, and I hope you find the perfect home to accommodate your little group!

This is so helpful and sweet of you, thank you! It's a really big move for me. I'm a young person who's been struggling to get a full time position for a long time. I can finally live on my own salary, but unfortunately I'm behind on the whole rent/lease/buy real estate game.

Fingers crossed I can find a house for lease with so many being bought up or rented to families leaving the city these days. I'm happy to know I have my BYC flock to help make it go smoother.

 

[mapurcel]

Thought I'd update this thread. It seems if you want to find a renting option for chickens you should go the way of house renting. It has been pretty much impossible to sway anyone in a condo or multi-family apt complex to let me have the girls in the back.

I think it's VERY interesting that places will let "large dogs" live in a house and be up in arms about having a small outdoor enclosure in the corner of the yard! I may be bias but doesn't it sound better to never have internal damage to the house and have less pest bugs on your lawn?!