Neighbour complaints

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[luciack]

Ha! Been doing some googling and we ARE allowed to keep them. There was a clause in our houses deeds saying we couldn't, but the allottment act (1950) says that basically such clauses on deeds aren't allowed and that unless they are a nuisance or health hazard people have the right to keep chickens. So he'd have to prove they were a problem. That's a relief!

 

[purslanegarden]

The thing about rats and mice is that if you have worked hard to keep them out of your yard/house, then it just means they are in someone else's yard/house (or really they are probably still nearby just that you don't see them yet). As far as I know, it is not "your" problem that the mice and rats are now at this other neighbor's place. He should make the same efforts to keep them out of his domain.

Chickens are great but some alternatives that might give you the same feelings of satisfaction are raising quail or maybe even jungle fowl, which are a type of chicken that are much quieter than a typical chicken. But I can't say if they're cleaner because, well, they're still chickens.

However, like someone said above, proving you can keep chickens isn't the same as keeping quail or even ducks, so even the quail alternative might not be valid if they aren't specified as being OK, assuming you might even consider that.

Being a chicken lover though, I'm disappointed in communities that allow dogs and roaming cats but not chickens. To me, roaming cats that go around in people's yards are pretty annoying, so I suppose someone might feel the same about chickens in your yard.

 

[URichards]

Get a cat

. Mufasa and nala keeps our mice away

 

[PatriciafromCO]

you can also use a larger electric zapper box... for the rodents.. that way you don't have to worry about using poisons. Before getting the ducks who have a talent for gulping down mice (not sure if that is normal but not complaining) The zappers did a great job.. sorry about your neighbors several of that type moved in around me too.. that all stopped with the bigger dogs before you reach the front door

 

[drumstick diva]

Personally I don't think he sees rats from your area or smells the chickens. He just decided he doesn't want chickens around. Only two chickens, is nothing. Maybe you could have them as house chickens. Please check out the "people with house chickens," thread. If they were fed in the house there would be nothing for rats to come after., and certainly nothing to smell.

My friend has had house chickens of different breeds for more than 25 years. Right now she has 3 bantam hens, 2 seramas and 1 silkie. They spend most of their time in the house. When she leaves on errands the hens and the dog, wait by the front door till she comes back. They get all excited like a dog does when she comes back home. When she is out with them - she lets them run in the fenced yard. They also sit on the chair with her when she watches tv. PS her house does not smell- I have visited several times - she always has a rag and disinfectant handy and cleans up after them immediately.