It's been a tough day - Help!

[50littlebirds]

A few facts...

We have a specific no chicken ordinance (Noblesville, IN). We've never kept our birds secret, but we've been careful about noise, etc.

1) I've lived in this house and kept poultry for 25 years.

2) My daughters have had 4H poultry projects for 11 years.

3) My youngest was elected Hamilton County (Indiana) Fair Queen last week.

4) The fair opened today. Her birds did well including 2 reserve champions.

5) Two birds were rejected by the fair and sent home (We had duplicates in some breeds. No big deal.)

6) Within two hours of bringing the chickens back a fox killed both.

7) I came home from the fair mid morning to find police poking around the neighbors yard. One of our missing (and eaten) hens was found in the bushes. The neighbor had seen the fox the night before and called the police this morning.

8) The paper ran a story about my daughter, the queen, and discussed how she successfully raised birds in the city.

9) Tonight we were served papers giving us 15 days to be rid of the birds.

My daughter is a mess. Two birds killed and now her flock has to go all in one day. A day where she is representing all that is good about agriculture and community. Needless to say this is hard.

We've always know that some day someone would complain and set this kind if thing in motion...but it's hard.

Any advice? Help!

 

[ChooksinChoppers]

First off

for you and your daughter. I am so sorry to hear all that.. IF there is no specific code (and I was trying to look it up for you) what are they saying is the reason for the citation? What county are you in? I might be able to find your code that way.
If we cannot find anything that states you cannot have chickens I would call the city and apply for a varience because they are your daughters pets, showbirds,and 4H animals.
Surely if the neighbor had a problem with your chickens he/she would've done something about it before now...so that tells me you keep your coop pretty clean and smell free.

 

[calicokat]

Me too sending hugs to the Fair Queen!

In the paperwork, did they specify a law/ordinance that you were violating? If there is no legal reason you can't keep them, I'd fight this. Especially since you have had them successfully for so many years without complaint.

 

[ailurophile23]

So sorry to hear all the bad news!

What is the reason you were given to be rid of the birds? I am sure someone else on BYC can offer helpful suggestions if you can provide a few more details. Don't give up yet and good luck getting this sorted out.

 

[Orpygal]

her post says there IS a specific no chicken ordinance.

Sorry, have no idea how you fight that.

 

[Candymom]

It can't hurt to apply for a variance and outline all the positive points like you just did for us. You could have neighbors who knew about the chickens sign letters stating that they have never been bothered by them, too.
In my little town we had a no chickens ordinance for many years. The animal control officer was a friend of mine and had to take my chickens when the utility guy complained about them. My officer friend always told me it would do no good to apply for a variance from the city, he said they wouldn't budge on it. Well, I heard that the city was starting to consider a change since so many people applied for variances. I printed off a ton of great info from this site and others and took it to the city. The next summer, they changed the ordinance. We went from having 3 illegal chickens to having 8 legal ones.
Good luck to you, I'm sorry about the fox and the mental trauma to your daughter.

 

[ChooksinChoppers]

Quote:
Oh dear...we all missed that except for you orpygal......dang it.
Well.....the varience is the first thing to go for. (I hope you don't have too many chickens) then if that doesnt work call local TV stations and newspapers and see if they will do an interview (thats what we did and so far so good) its a huge fight though! and you will need a bunch of other chicken people to help/back you up. petitions and calls to comissioners/mayors.

 

[ailurophile23]

D'oh! I know I read it (incorrectly) as "no specific chicken ordinance" - thanks for catching that Oprygal!

 

[ChooksinChoppers]

Oh and putting in an appeal to the city will put everything on hold until it's sorted out. you will have to go to court though. have a bunch of chicken peeps there to back you up. victory in numbers.

 

[50littlebirds]

Thanks for the support and suggestions. I knew this day was coming -- someday -- so I really don't have much desire to fight. I do like the idea of pursuing a variance. We just need to get my daughter through one more year of 4H.

I suspect the neighbors think that the chickens are bringing the foxes into the neighborhood, but we've at least 6 full grown foxes and this is our first chicken attack. (The same neighbors think we need to keep children indoors and safe from foxes).

A former neighbor posted this on facebook this morning:

...having spent 8 of those 25 years sharing a fence line, I can personally attest to the fact that the chickens are in no way a nuisance. In fact, one of the most entertaining things I ever saw was you chasing a headstrong bird around the backyard for several minutes who was not quite ready to go home. If there is anything we can do to help please let us know.

The variance gives me hope. Thanks.

We'll keep you posted.