We had to submit copies of a "site plan" of where our mini barn and barnyard would be located / had to be away from all property lines etc. Also submitted $400 fee and short articles about Pygmy goats being great pets, (females have no odor but males can STINK), and a very nice letter from my in-laws former neighbor, where she raved about the ten years long ago that my in-laws had chickens and Pygmy goats, and how wonderful it was, and that the animals didn't cause any odors or noise etc. Many of the zoning board members showed up unannounced to see our property before the hearing. Township laws do list goats and chickens as allowed animals but only with zoning board approval. (We know of a family that had 4-6 chickens on 1/3 acre or less, in Broomall, for several years until a fox got them all this summer. They didn't know they needed approval and I guess their neighbors never complained.)
We were encouraged to get signed permission from our neighbors. We have 7 adjacent neighbors because of the way our property is situated plus 2 directly across the street. One is very elderly and two properties are behind our back woods so they didn't really count. So of the 6 remaining we got 3 signatures and 2 grouches who showed up at the zoning meeting to object: "Broomall is no place for farm animals" and "I might hear them once in a while IF my windows are open in the summer and if I trim my side of their 40 foot tall arborvitaes". They brought another lady from across the side street who said that forty years ago there were chickens on our property, and once, one got loose and came onto her lawn and "surprised her". (Wow, how awful!)
The zoning board asked us 20 times about smells and what we would do about the manure and mice and flies and about noise and fencing etc. They then adjourned and came back in ten minutes with "YES!" Haha! As the committee filed out afterwards the chairwoman leaned over to us and whispered, "I think this is awesome!"
We are the talk of the town at the local coffee shops, we hear! "Did you know there are people with GOATS and chickens in Broomall!?!" " "No way!" "Yes way!"
The one grouchy neighbor now yells at us for fixing our car in our driveway. He's a little bitter. :-(
I do not use lights. My reasoning is - I do not count on my eggs for income, so, I figure that giving the hens a rest during shorter light days so they can spend more time foraging is what works for me. Do I complain come holiday time and I'm getting 2 eggs per day? Heck yes! But it gives me a reason to patronize other farms in the area.
..question..Wyandottes continue to lay throughout the winter.. at a reduced rate, but they still lay, being they are very cold hardy..right? That was one of the reasons I leaned toward that breed, also...and Blarney..you would know this cause you have them..Orps....don't they still lay in the winter..slowed down version, but they still lay?...I love those big fluffy butts too!!!
......you are still going to try again?
