Message from my neighbor

[McKenley5]

I received the following from the guy 3 houses down today: Melanie, before someone calls the Codes or Health Department, you might want to get rid of those chickens.

Sound like a threat? He later replied and said that they don't bother him, BUT that was only after I sent the following reply: Are you serious? We don't live in the city and I couldn't find anything in the county ordinances.

Any thoughts or advice??

 

[speckledhen]

Be sure you have anything the ordinance says (or your neighborhood covenants) about poultry and print it out so you are armed if anything happens. The only thing that matters is what's in writing.

 

[Kaelinstorm]

Well if there is nothing in the city ordinances against having them... I say theres no problem. I just dont get people sometimes. Chickens are great!

 

[McKenley5]

We do not have a neighborhood association (we have lived here 6 years and never heard of one, how would you find out??) and the county ordinances never even mention chickens. I don't think that there is anything that I can print. He has a reputation on the street for calling animal control on people's pets, so he is "one of those people"

 

[RoosterRidge]

Sounds like he is the one with the problem. If it is legal to have chickens on your property I would not worry about what he or anyone else thinks. Probably would want to make sure no one can get to your chickens because there are some mean people in this world. As with anything else people are weary of things they don't understand. We have a neighbor that had chickens and his roo crowed all day and all night. I never would have been so stupid as to say something to him. It is his property and he can do what he wants. We laughed at it because it was funny to us. I cannot imagine what we would do without ours, if one of my neighbors was ever to complain to me I would have a long list ready for them. Good luck to you and keep us posted.

 

[McKenley5]

One of our birds turned out to be a rooster and I promptly rehomed him, I am TRYING to be a good neighbor...geez!

My plan is to keep them in their coop and call the county extension office to see what they say. Thanks for the support guys!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Not sure where you live, but BYC has a great database for what is allowed where regarding chickens. I'd suggest browsing through the Health Department's website and see if they have anything to do regarding poultry. Sounds like you've already checked the county ordinances. What about your zoning? What uses are allowed?

As was said, keep access to the birds locked (coop, gates to your yard, etc.) and print out all the relvant ordinances and code to show that you are legal. If your neighbor says anything more, point blank ask if he is threatening you. If he says "yes," report it to the police.

 

[Kaelinstorm]

I totally agree with the protecting them from weirdoes part. Are they free range or do they have an inclosed run?

 

[McKenley5]

Quote:
We made them a coop that is 10 x 4, so they have enough room in there, but we like to let them out in the yard in the afternoons. They like to eat bugs and seeds out of the grass and I hate to deny them that, but we do not have a fenced in yard.

I am thinking that it may just be time to move out to the country somewhere...

 

[Kaelinstorm]

Totally understand. I NEVER lock mine up. But my neighbors see the benefits of my flock to THEIR yards (Low bug population) but if they did I would probably work on building a large run for them. But moving into the country is always nice

But I admit I like the low predator population in the city