Pandemic trend

[Advar85]

Hi everyone I’m a new chicken owner. I began my chicken journey around August, when no covid 19 was around. I went to the store to buy dog food and my 4 year old insisted on buying chickens. I saw them fragile and cheap, so I assumed they weren’t going to last. I took 4 “girls” they looked all different and I didn’t care. However days passed and they survived, even to a glue trap (thank god I figured out cooking oil would take them off) since they were completely attached. Oh well long story short, they grew into 3 beautiful hens and one bossy rooster.
The girls began lying eggs and kept us so excited. However my rooster is starting to make his noises and my problem is... I live in the city, and my city doesn’t allow poultry. I admire places that allow small backyard flocks. I was ready to give them away two months ago... however when Covid-19 made his way to my town, and eggs became as precious as toilet paper I decided to keep them against everyone else. I would like to get ideas from you all about how to present my case to the city in order to convince them; keeping my girls will help us survive this pandemic time. And another thing; my next door neighbor kind of followed my steps, the only negative thing is that his yard is one third of mine and he has 14 hens!!!. I don’t want to approach to avoid problems but I need to know how unhealthy can get with the immense amount of hens in his little space (about 2500 sq ft). Thank you and blessings to all of you.

 

[pozees2]

First, welcome to being a chicken keeper! It is surprisingly addictive, I think . My chickens have given me more than I can ever give them, not only in terms of eggs, but also a sense of community among other keepers, and what amounts to therapy after terrible days at work - I can tell them everything or nothing, they don't care, as long as I feed them, give them fresh water, and keep their digs clean-ish (in truth, as often as not they are irritated with me for cleaning their houses and pens, but it still has to happen).

As far as your neighbor, 14 hens in 2500 square feet is fine, it gives them about 178 square feet each. As long as he takes care of them, and smell and noise don't raise concerns among other neighbors, which might also draw unwanted attention to your little flock, I probably wouldn't fret over it too much. It gives you something in common. There are folks with whom I share absolutely no common interests except chickens, but that one common interest has led to knowing and caring about people I would otherwise never have met, and hours and hours of conversation exchanging ideas about coops, runs, breeds, eggs, chicks, brooders, heated waterers, etc. For me, keeping chickens has, among other things, reinforced the notion that there can be as many different ways to reach a goal as there are people trying to reach it, none is necessarily wrong or better.

 

[pibb]

I think everyone in the world should have at least 2 hens. That being said, I have myself been aggravated with my own rooster crowing in the morning and I think the rooster is going to be your problem with your neighbor(s) and the sound does carry a long way. Hens can make some crazy noises too but the rooster prevailes in the noise department.

Did you know you don't need a rooster to have eggs? Some people don't know that. I bet if you got rid of your rooster, no one would probably say a thing about your chickens. Your neighbor on the other hand may be told to get rid of their chickens and then you may have to follow suit.

 

[Advar85]

First, welcome to being a chicken keeper! It is surprisingly addictive, I think . My chickens have given me more than I can ever give them, not only in terms of eggs, but also a sense of community among other keepers, and what amounts to therapy after terrible days at work - I can tell them everything or nothing, they don't care, as long as I feed them, give them fresh water, and keep their digs clean-ish (in truth, as often as not they are irritated with me for cleaning their houses and pens, but it still has to happen).

As far as your neighbor, 14 hens in 2500 square feet is fine, it gives them about 178 square feet each. As long as he takes care of them, and smell and noise don't raise concerns among other neighbors, which might also draw unwanted attention to your little flock, I probably wouldn't fret over it too much. It gives you something in common. There are folks with whom I share absolutely no common interests except chickens, but that one common interest has led to knowing and caring about people I would otherwise never have met, and hours and hours of conversation exchanging ideas about coops, runs, breeds, eggs, chicks, brooders, heated waterers, etc. For me, keeping chickens has, among other things, reinforced the notion that there can be as many different ways to reach a goal as there are people trying to reach it, none is necessarily wrong or better.

I am very excited for all the things I will be learning here, I’ve always been an outsider that comes and reads, I really thank your comments. My entire family is so happy spending time with the “girls” (and the unwanted “boy”). We almost cried if joy with the first egg, my son was so happy that the egg slipped from his hand . My dog; a Belgium mallinois helps us herding them to back to their coop. He feels proud to watch them.

 

[Advar85]

I think everyone in the world should have at least 2 hens. That being said, I have myself been aggravated with my own rooster crowing in the morning and I think the rooster is going to be your problem with your neighbor(s) and the sound does carry a long way. Hens can make some crazy noises too but the rooster prevailes in the noise department.

Did you know you don't need a rooster to have eggs? Some people don't know that. I bet if you got rid of your rooster, no one would probably say a thing about your chickens. Your neighbor on the other hand may be told to get rid of their chickens and then you may have to follow suit.

I actually posted online “free rooster” and received a lot of replies. My boy is handsome; don’t have a clue what breed but his white earlobes and grayish feathers make him very cute, he’s a juvenile barely 7 months, but he already begin making noise. My husband is the one that doesn’t want me to get rid of him; he thinks the Roo can ensure meat for our family in case things don’t turn out good with covid-19.

 

[happybooker1]

I actually posted online “free rooster” and received a lot of replies. My boy is handsome; don’t have a clue what breed but his white earlobes and grayish feathers make him very cute, he’s a juvenile barely 7 months, but he already begin making noise. My husband is the one that doesn’t want me to get rid of him; he thinks the Roo can ensure meat for our family in case things don’t turn out good with covid-19.

You should Google "rooster with white earlobes" and see if you can identify him with images. I found several. When roos crow, they crow LOUD! I only have 1 and you can hear him several blocks away but I live out in the country so no one cares.

 

[Advar85]

You should Google "rooster with white earlobes" and see if you can identify him with images. I found several. When roos crow, they crow LOUD! I only have 1 and you can hear him several blocks away but I live out in the country so no one cares.

Im in the City, like in the middle... i need to re home my boy.

 

[Acre4Me]

Here’s an old government poster that might help!

ok, ok, your town might consider it too old.

otherwise, get info on surrounding communities to see what they allow, paying attention to lot size and coop restrictions bc some have unusable restrictions such as coop x ft from property line that would be bigger than your lot, for example. I’ve heard on BYC that some cities, such as Chicago don’t really have restrictions on chickens or roosters (but maybe I’m not remembering that correctly as I don’t live near Chicago).

Good luck

 

[Advar85]

Here’s an old government poster that might help!

ok, ok, your town might consider it too old.

View attachment 2069172

otherwise, get info on surrounding communities to see what they allow, paying attention to lot size and coop restrictions bc some have unusable restrictions such as coop x ft from property line that would be bigger than your lot, for example. I’ve heard on BYC that some cities, such as Chicago don’t really have restrictions on chickens or roosters (but maybe I’m not remembering that correctly as I don’t live near Chicago).

Good luck

Thanks. I’m hoping that once the rooster leaves no one will even notice my hens. They’re quiet. Like today I woke up because of the boy’s morning melody. However I immediately looked at my back window and noticed that my neighbors were already awake with their lights on. They’re on their late 70’s, it’s a very old subdivision. My husband insists that they’d love awaking into the rooster sound. I’ll just wait to see if a raise any complaints, but the boy will definitely leave soon.

 

[lomine]

Sounds like you are more interested in giving him away. I think if your husband is interested in raising chickens for meat you may want to try butchering the cockerel.

To me, raising your own meat is a good thing. However, there are some things to consider. Has your husband thought about how you will feed all the chickens you raise for meat?. If the economy really does go down the crapper (personally I think people will go back to work before that point) then where will you buy food? Some folks are already having a hard time finding feed because others are hoarding it. (Which is dumb because it losses it's nutritional value after a couple months.) My birds free range on 3 acres and I still have to buy them feed all year. I'm guessing your backyard can't sustain a very big flock.