not zoning issue- INSURANCE issue!

[cherub78]

UGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

I made sure our coop/critters is ok with zoning. Far enough from the house, we are zoned agricultural here, etc. Thought that was our only thing we had to do.

So, recently our insurance agent told us they are no longer with our homeowners insurance company and convinced us to change companies.

The new company sent out an rep, and they started questioning about us having chickens, ducks, etc.

After a few weeks, we received more calls asking questions about this. Then our agent called to ask exactly how far the buildings are from the house. Said our new company is terminating our homeowners insurance due to the animals (they don't insure places with farm animals I was told). My animals are not "loose" on the property- they are in secure pens. They can't get in the road, or on a neighbors property or anything. A child can't get their fingers through the hardware cloth bottom half. What is their freakin problem???

The agent was trying to find us another company quick, but the only other she found so far said the building has to be 200 feet from the house! Ours is less than 50 feet from the house itself, and actually only 15 ft from the attached garage.

It is too large of a structure to move or have moved 6x8 then a 12x16 addition added on, all heavy duty construction type, and the two sections were securely atteched when adding the addition, so it just can't be done.

The agent is looking for other companies. We aren't really considered a farm, and can't get farm credit or anything, so I don't know about getting insurance through a place that does farms, but usually farm buildings ARE further from the house.

Our homeowners insurance will end on 11/4, and I have no clue what to do. They said if it was just 3-4 chickens, it would be another issue, but when you get up to this many critters, the insurance company won't touch it.

Any ideas? Our agent is still working on this, but I am freaking out and teribly upset.

God help me if they find out about the 8 bunnies in the garage! I will probably be treated like I am committing a felony.

 

[lauralou]

That's ridiculous! If I were you, I'd try to find an agent who could get you reinsured through your old company. And I wouldn't say a word about the chickens! Just call the coop a shed.

Good luck. That really stinks!

 

[Pampered Chicken]

Have them look into farm owners insurance. Also not sure what state your in? I'm an insurance agent in Vermont. I'll ask the girls who do farm owners if they have to be so far from the house. Haven't heard that one.

 

[Camelot Farms]

I vaguely remember when we bought our home 4 years ago that the agent asked us if we had farm animals. I said 'no' which was true at the time...And never gave it another thought until now...

Lets just hope that they never cancel me or I am in biiig trouble. We have 50 chickens plus the 10 chicks in the sunroom. 7 goats, 2 horses and some ducks.

 

[cherub78]

lauralou- I didn't say anything to the other company- they just routinely send out a rep when you switch to their company. I would think going back to our old company they would do the same thing.

And it is awefully hard to hide this many critters! Even if I keep them in the "shed" it is quite a racket!

Pampered- I am in central New York.

Camelot- I suggest you not tell them- lol.

 

[Judy]

I've had homeowners with several companies over the years and never once had a company rep come out to the house, or heard of anyone I know having this happen.

I'd say you need a different insurance agent. Buying online might be another option; I currently have one policy with an agent halfway across the country from me. They did not ask if I had chickens.

 

[gumpsgirl]

We just switched homeowners insurance and were asked if we had any farm animals. When I mentioned chickens, they said quite quickly that they weren't any big deal. They were more worried about cows, horses, and big farm animals that could be a liability to the ins. company. They said chickens weren't a big deal. I wonder if the rep. that came out to your house knew what they were talking about or not?

 

[DawnSuiter]

I wonder if they would tell you why? I'm big on knowing why things are the way they are.

I never thought about asking the insurance company about the birds... I called to ask about insuring the buildings and hot tub etc.. it's "covered in my policy for outbuildings" they said... but I didn't tell them what they were for.

They do come & every couple of years or so and check on things.. standard practice. I wonder if I should be worried!!

 

[Katy]

You should look into Farm Bureau. That's who we have our farm insurance thru.

 

[cherub78]

I found out today that we are able to get insurance through Farmer's Insurance, but then I read all kind of negative info about them on web searches.
Still not sure what to do about it.