On The Sly...

[Lunachick]

Errr, I'm gonna come clean here. I never checked with my small town about keeping chickens. I figured -hey I want 2 chickens for these reasons:

1. they are awfully cute

2. they eat bugs, my little dog has had Lyme disease 3 times

3. cause I want to, and EGGS

I did do some snooping on line about codes etc. and according to them the legaleze is, as long as I keep under 4 chickens (poultry, pheasants etc.) and house them appropriately, keep it clean and safe for them, -duh- I shouldn't have a problem with anyone, I think it's neighbors you would have to worry about, Mine seem fine, they don't know yet, I'm really being sneaky here. Have small yard, but there's no looking back now, I'm totally into this chicken thing, darn it. Any other small time criminals out there?

 

[Lunachick]

Oh, and also I ordered two pullets, they should arrive late May. I already have names for them, I hope I don't jinx it!

 

[SpottedCrow]

As long as the codes say that it's okay and give you a number you should be okay from the Chicken cops...the neighbours might be a bit more of a problem. I'd go around to the ones closest to you and sort of drop a couple of hints.

 

[HenHappy]

Hi Luna...I was going to do the sly thing...but then I got scared that someone would try to take my chickies away from me...so I ran out and checked. I have to keep my flock rather small as well (no Roosters) and my next doors have never complained...yet! I imagine if they get mad for some other reason they would use it as an excuse! I plan on planting more evergreens between our houses because they are very nosey! lol

 

[Lunachick]

Hi Henhappy, I'm still scared, I just hope it all goes well. I hope I get quiet girls, I'll just have to tell them to keep the bok bok bok down, and we should all be good and safe. But, we'll see. My hubby backs me up! My daughters think I probably lost it! I'll relax as soon as the girls come. I'm even worried that the P.O. people might give me a hard time. Every night before I sleep I keep thinking of things to say to keep it on the sly. tee hee

 

[Jimagination]

Codes...what codes...

kidding, but nope, I didn't even check into that. I figure if my neighbors can leave their cats out and they can pee and poop all over my yard as well as those who walk their dogs and don't clean their stuff up and the teenagers who ride their 4 wheelers really fast around our corner when my little boys are out playing and the burning of leaves and smoke which hangs over my house with my 3 year old with asthma, they better not complain about my chickens! So there!

 

[HenHappy]

You TELL em!!! Luna...if you need help with parsnickety neighbours I am sure Jimagination can come up with a way to back them down!!!My first girls are somewhat quiet, except for Rosie who crows when she lays...but she only does it for 15 minutes or so. Then I added Lucky,(from a friend who lost all her flock, except for her, to racoons) who never shuts up!!! She has a quuuuuuaaaaaarrrrkkk sound she does all the time!! With the Canadian geese honking away, the loons on the lake at the back of my place, and the big vultures that nest in my trees, they all can just live with my girls and be happy I don't get more!

 

[cookinmom]

I confess...I didn't check codes either. I'm assuming our town doesn't have any, and here's why. Half a block away in one direction a guy has some pigs and some chickens. A block away in another direction a family has 3 turkeys, 2 goats, some chickens, a dog and a bunch of kids. 2 streets over in another direction a guy has a really nice coop with about 30 chickens. And there are bunches of "free range" dogs. We're an easy bunch of folks here in St George! My neighbor ladies are ready and waiting for their eggs!

 

[Aloha Moa]

Here's how different things are here on the Big Island of Hawaii:
Not only do we have wild chickens all over, but lots of people keep them in coops.

Driving down the main street in our subdivision, where each lot is one acre, there is a house on the main street whose acre is almost completely dedicated to rooster A-frames. In one corner there's the henhouse, but his thing is roosters. There must be 75 of them, each individually chained by an ankle to their little metal A-frames, and far enough away from his neighbor to cause problems. Imagine the cacaphony of 75 roosters. And all not only legal, but okay by the neighbors. I'm just glad I don't live near him.
(I'd try to liberate a few of the poor roosters but he has guard dogs chained at every corner )

 

[Llysse]

Lunachick, you may be able to get your neighbors excited about your chickens by dropping off a dozen eggs every so often, even if it's just once or twice a season. Who can resist fresh, delicious eggs?