About a year ago, I took on raising 4 hens at my apartment complex and have had a fantastic experience. Unfortunately, I had to give up my girls, and even move out of my apartment. This all started as my apartment was ac cross the street to several open fields, where there were over 100 wild chickens. At first it was just entertaining, then I learned how smart these chickens were, as they would come over for a treat, even knocking on my front door. I got to thinking, what a waste of eggs, and wondering if I could convince a few hens to lay their eggs around here.
One thing led to another, and I wound up adopting 4 chicks and raising them. I was aware of the laws requiring that all chickens be in a coop. However, keeping them in a coop, while dozens roamed the neighborhood freely, seemed a little impractical. My 4 girls would roam about the neighborhood like the other neighborhood chickens, and would lay their eggs on my patio, and come home for the night where they would roost in my outside storage closet. Check out my video if you'd like to: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/extra-free-ranging-apartment-chicken-pets
I even discussed the issue with the animal control officers, who were aware of the wild chicken problem in the neighborhood, and told me not to worry about my extra free ranging 4 hens. During this whole year I had even rehoused over 30 of the wild chickens, in an effort to control the population, which I was thanked for by the animal control officers.
Then one day I had a knock on my door by a Code Enforcement Officer. He pointed to a rooster in my yard and asked if it was mine. I told him no, pointed to my hens and told them that I care for the 4 hens, but the rooster is wild. I also told him that I had initially chased the rooster away from my hens, but it was pointless, and now just go ahead and let the rooster hang out with my girls, but it doesn't stay with them at night or anything. Several days later, I received a voluntary compliance letter which advised me to not allow my chickens to hang out with the rooster! I thought it was sort of funny, and even read the letter to the offending rooster, but it did no good. The Code officer also sent a letter, not to my property management company, but to some rich out of state owner. This letter however, did NOT say quite the same thing as my letter, as this letter advised the owner that I was keeping 4 hens and a rooster!
The property management was already aware of the chickens, and although they did not give me their blessing in writing, they were aware of the entire issue, and had not gave me any problems for several months after I had explained the situation to them.
Well, apparently the owner stated that he wanted 'no chickens on the property' and a month later I received a notice to vacate.
I had to get rid of the chickens, and move. It is unfortunate that this unnecessary person, i.e. code enforcement officer, created all this turmoil, for absolutely no reason.
One thing led to another, and I wound up adopting 4 chicks and raising them. I was aware of the laws requiring that all chickens be in a coop. However, keeping them in a coop, while dozens roamed the neighborhood freely, seemed a little impractical. My 4 girls would roam about the neighborhood like the other neighborhood chickens, and would lay their eggs on my patio, and come home for the night where they would roost in my outside storage closet. Check out my video if you'd like to: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/extra-free-ranging-apartment-chicken-pets
I even discussed the issue with the animal control officers, who were aware of the wild chicken problem in the neighborhood, and told me not to worry about my extra free ranging 4 hens. During this whole year I had even rehoused over 30 of the wild chickens, in an effort to control the population, which I was thanked for by the animal control officers.
Then one day I had a knock on my door by a Code Enforcement Officer. He pointed to a rooster in my yard and asked if it was mine. I told him no, pointed to my hens and told them that I care for the 4 hens, but the rooster is wild. I also told him that I had initially chased the rooster away from my hens, but it was pointless, and now just go ahead and let the rooster hang out with my girls, but it doesn't stay with them at night or anything. Several days later, I received a voluntary compliance letter which advised me to not allow my chickens to hang out with the rooster! I thought it was sort of funny, and even read the letter to the offending rooster, but it did no good. The Code officer also sent a letter, not to my property management company, but to some rich out of state owner. This letter however, did NOT say quite the same thing as my letter, as this letter advised the owner that I was keeping 4 hens and a rooster!
The property management was already aware of the chickens, and although they did not give me their blessing in writing, they were aware of the entire issue, and had not gave me any problems for several months after I had explained the situation to them.
Well, apparently the owner stated that he wanted 'no chickens on the property' and a month later I received a notice to vacate.
I had to get rid of the chickens, and move. It is unfortunate that this unnecessary person, i.e. code enforcement officer, created all this turmoil, for absolutely no reason.
