Neighbor Objects to Chicken Smell

[ChikaD]

I've been planning my chicken run and garden for months, and I've finally finished my design. I live in the desert, so I'm going to use a grey-water irrigation system for the garden. I'm fencing it in sections, and I plan to rotate the sections and have one to sit fallow each year. The chickens will have a permanent coop and run with access to the fallow garden section. Obviously, all of this required a lot of planning and consideration, and there's just one perfect way to fit it all in my yard.

BUT... I started scratching out my plan in the dirt, and my neighbor (who is also my MOTHER) had a fit! Oh, no, she says. You're going to put that coop as far away from me as possible. She's convinced that she's going to be choked out by chicken-stink. From what I've read here, I don't expect it to be a problem- I will have a few chickens with plenty of room and we live in an arid climate. What can I tell her?

 

[Isaac 0]

It wont stink unless she goes in the coop.You can give her eggs to make her happy.

 

[JanetMarie]

A coop properly maintained smells very little.

 

[lazy gardener]

A properly maintained coop AND run are essentially odor free. The only time I have any odor is if it has been exceptionally wet for days on end, and then, it's more of an earthy smell than it is a poopy smell. A dog poo smells far worse than chicken poo. Tell your mother she'd rather have chickens for neighbors than a dog. Dogs bark, often... and sometimes a lot, depending on the breed and their management. Chickens are rarely heard, unless you are WITH them, or unless they actually have something to say.

 

[aart]

If you keep the coop cleaned and dry, which shouldn't be a problem in your climate...
......and keep good bedding down in the run, there should be no odor most of the time.

Do you have any buddies that have chickens nearby, and keep a well maintained coop, that she could visit?
You may be able to convince her.....or maybe not.
Is she a reasonable person.....why does she think this, did she have a bad chicken experience??

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Sounds like Mom has a control issue, unless she is your landlord then its really none of her business. If she IS your LL then you need to educate her....

Gary from Idyllwild Ca here