I learned a few things during my time of chicken keeping in the suburbs. 99% of my neighbors didn't mind. They thought the birds were cute, loved the eggs, and their kids enjoyed playing with the cute silkies. Then there's the one neighbor that knows nothing about chickens, or any animal, and complains that my chickens are a health hazard! Really? One uneducated, misinformed person is all it takes. I had asked her several times if my birds bothered her and she lied to my face telling me they were fine. I gave her lots of eggs! Then she turned me in. There was nothing I could do about it, I had to give up raising chickens until I could move to the country. I had thousands of dollars invested in a custom made coop, quality birds and every bit of anything I could pamper them with. All gone.
It took me a few years, but I am now on a farm about as far away from the suburbs as possible. I'm starting up my flock, about six months in and learning that the grass isn't always greener... we are learning about predators the hard way...so far we've lost one to dogs, 7 day old chicks and a bantam to snakes, we killed a raccoon...but, we processed some roosters, have our first broody, and we wake up to the beautiful sound of our roosters crow!!!
No matter where you live, you will have challenges. All we can do is keep trying and do what we can.
