New member in Boulder, Colorado - need advice with neighbor complaint!

[boulderdad]

Hi all -

Thanks for the replies and advice. I didn't realize they were fine without the heat lamp, so I appreciate the data points from folks chiming in and letting me know their hens are fine without them, we've been doing without the heat lamp at night for the last few nights.

We did also have one other surprise - the hens woke my wife up yesterday morning at 6am with their loud noise. I put a front door on the coop, and a rear swing-open door into the roofed run, both of which have bolts. I always keep the front door bolted, but I usually just drop the swing-down rear door closed at night without bolting it. Seems like at least some of the hens figured out they could just push through that rear door and get out into the run in the morning, and start squawking. We've just been bringing food once a day in the morning, so they're used to that.

So the new plan is to feed them once early in the morning and once around when it gets dark (when it's cold and snowy like it is now), so that they have enough calories to get by until the morning, plus shoot the bolt on that rear door so they can't get out into the light. Hopefully the combination of darkness, full bellies (or crops!), and being unable to get out into the light will keep all the ladies quiet until a reasonable hour of the morning, at least 7am.

Appreciate the suggestions and advice!

 

[ChicksandWeeds]

let us know how it works out

 

[Haveandtohold]

Hi all -

New member to BYC in beautiful Boulder, Colorado. We have had from 6-24 hens for the last 3 years, currently 12 ladies, who are a mix of breeds - Ameracauna, Australorp, Buff Orpington, Rhode Island Red, some Black Sex-links, Sussex, Barred Rock, you name it! All hens, no roosters.

We have a good-size backyard garden (6 raised beds, 2 cold frames, a small greenhouse) and really have gotten into organic gardening over the last 4-5 years. Backyard chickens were a natural progression for us to get some fresh eggs, and my son (7) and daughter (5) have enjoyed helping us out with them.

We have a backyard coop/run built onto the side of the house, which I built, and it's under some pines which provides some shade in the summer and protection from marauding raptors. So far, we have not lost any chickens to predators (though we have bobcats, cougars, coyotes, raccoons, foxes, skunks, many of which I've seen in our back yard!).

Here's the rub...We live in south Boulder on a quiet street of about a dozen houses, and back onto a condo development. Our neighbors have been fine with our chickens, we have never had a complaint - until now. The Animal Control Officer showed up at 7am this morning to say that there had been a noise complaint at 6am. One more complaint and we're in court, court costs us $325 and penalties $500.

Under Boulder's Animal Noise ordinance (http://www.colocode.com/boulder2/chapter6-1.htm) , 6-1-19 says "No person owning or keeping any animal shall fail to prevent such animal from disturbing the peace of any other person by...crowing, calling, or making any other loud and persistent or loud and habitual noise..."

Talked to the AC officer, and there doesn't seem to be any recourse - they make another complaint about noise, and we are in court. The ordinance does not specify any sound levels, so the level of sound is not a defence. However, the AC officer does not know of any other Colorado cases of "chicken nuisance".

Any members in Colorado, or especially Boulder, with any advice? We have put dark cloths on the two coop windows tonight and changed the bulb of the heat lamp to a red one to hopefully quiet down the ladies in the night - our anonymous complainant (we think one of the condo dwellers) has reportedly been awakened numerous times from 3-6am by the hens, though we have not...

However, it looks like the way the noise ordinance is written, we have no defence, and will just have to give up the chickens - after one anonymous complaint!!!

Hi and

I'm also in South Boulder! My closest main cross streets are probably Broadway and Tablemesa. I've only had 6 hens at a time, no roosters like you. I'm very surprised to hear of anyone having a noise complaint and we're going on 4 years now and haven't had any. I've even heard what seems to be another nearby neighbor keeping chickens since we started!

In my experience the best way to keep the gals from "screaming" is to let them out of the coop at a set time, or when you first hear them wanting out and to limit light exposure until then. If they require a heat lamp on some of our super chilly nights (I usually only mess with it if it's 10 degrees or colder) make sure the bulb is red so they'll keep quieter and be less stressed. We positioned our coop to be near our bedroom window so we would be the first to know of any disturbances which is big help for keeping the noise down. Like others said be sure to feed them as soon as they get up. I'd also say limiting their space to roam tends to make them louder. Mine roam the whole backyard and I just fence the garden instead of the hens. Sometimes chickens will "scream" if they don't have access to their prefered laying box. Make sure you have enough for how many layers you have.

My final advice is to create a flyer that explains who you are, where you live, and why keeping chickens in Boulder is both legal and ethical. If you feel like a real schmoozer include a bit about why this is important to your family. I'd supply a phone number at which you can be reached if anyone has any concerns. I'd drop the note off at any neighbors you think might be the ones who called along with some eggs. Never hurts to grease the wheels a little.

 

[roostersandhens]

 

[Victoria-nola]

There are infrared heaters made for reptiles that don't glow with any light, if you need warmth in your coop in the winter. I wish you well.

 

[drumstick diva]

I wouldn't give out your phone number - they'll just use it for crank calls

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! Glad you joined us!

 

[rosief]

Hi and

I'm also in South Boulder! My closest main cross streets are probably Broadway and Tablemesa. I've only had 6 hens at a time, no roosters like you. I'm very surprised to hear of anyone having a noise complaint and we're going on 4 years now and haven't had any. I've even heard what seems to be another nearby neighbor keeping chickens since we started!

In my experience the best way to keep the gals from "screaming" is to let them out of the coop at a set time, or when you first hear them wanting out and to limit light exposure until then. If they require a heat lamp on some of our super chilly nights (I usually only mess with it if it's 10 degrees or colder) make sure the bulb is red so they'll keep quieter and be less stressed. We positioned our coop to be near our bedroom window so we would be the first to know of any disturbances which is big help for keeping the noise down. Like others said be sure to feed them as soon as they get up. I'd also say limiting their space to roam tends to make them louder. Mine roam the whole backyard and I just fence the garden instead of the hens. Sometimes chickens will "scream" if they don't have access to their prefered laying box. Make sure you have enough for how many layers you have.

My final advice is to create a flyer that explains who you are, where you live, and why keeping chickens in Boulder is both legal and ethical. If you feel like a real schmoozer include a bit about why this is important to your family. I'd supply a phone number at which you can be reached if anyone has any concerns. I'd drop the note off at any neighbors you think might be the ones who called along with some eggs. Never hurts to grease the wheels a little.

Hi Boulderdad & Haveandtohold,
I am also in South Boulder near you in Table Mesa and just got my first three chicks on April 1, so I am very new to this, but have been enjoying it immensely so far. I had to join this forum today when I read your post as I think there may be strength in numbers if we can somehow stick together on this. I think we could write a letter to city council and/or to the Daily Camera and gain some momentum and perhaps some support as I know that the popularity of chicken keeping here is growing exponentially and the rules seem pretty vague. I also saw that there is a North Boulder Chicken Co-operative and maybe they would be willing to help, or sign a letter we wrote or something. There should be a Boulder Chicken Group just like there is FIDOS for dogs, who gain momentum by banding together. Just wanted to introduce myself and let me know if I can help support you here!
My three chicks are growing so fast and I am crossing my fingers that Thelma is not a rooster-as I am most suspicious of her. I have Thelma & Louise (two barred rocks) and one Buff Orpington named simply, Buffy.

 

[coalyardcharlie]

We plan on moving to Colorado and our sons live in Westminster......I would like to know where we can move to so that we can have chickens......Any help will be greatly appreciated as I am new navigating this web site......I need all the help I can get in trying to relocate and have my ladies join me......How many, any restrictions, zoning laws etc., any help. Thanks every one in advance, Charlie

 

[TwoCrows]

We plan on moving to Colorado and our sons live in Westminster......I would like to know where we can move to so that we can have chickens......Any help will be greatly appreciated as I am new navigating this web site......I need all the help I can get in trying to relocate and have my ladies join me......How many, any restrictions, zoning laws etc., any help. Thanks every one in advance, Charlie

Welcome to BYC!

You might want to start in your state thread and ask the locals as to where is a good place to raise chickens. Click here...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/68894/colorado

Good luck and welcome to our flock!