@Hoosier,
Because most of my backyard borders a parking lot, I can get away with an 8' fence, instead of the 6' city ordinance requires for residential properties. I finally had the funds this year to put my privacy fence up against the two sides that border the lot. It looks much nicer than chain link, and kept nosy church goers from spying my coop before it was legal. Most of the folk who border the lot have an 8', and even Mr Jerk has raised the fence between our two properties up to 8'. I don't mind, it gives us each a little more privacy, but his carpentry skills match his etiquette. IE, they are both lacking. I cringe when I see his fence leaning and wavering all over the place. Even with a fence he can't peek over, he is bound to discover we have a coop, and knowing him, he will report us. Let him, I'm legal. Next year I tackle that side of the property, build my fence, my bbq pit and my wood fired pizza oven.
I also believe that raising meat animals ethically pretty much eliminates any of the ethical motivations for being vegetarian. If your food does not suffer, what do you have to object to? I'm jealous of how you get to raise your family. Country living is just not feasible for us right now, so we do what we can with what we have, and that means a garden, chickens and bees.
Can I take a moment to say how awesome this forum is? I belong to several other forums, but not one of them was nearly so welcoming as this one! You peeps are awesome!
