Plants or bushes for stealth run

[Tegan]

Until I get the laws changed here I'm looking into idea for a stealth run. I'd like to use a large dog kennel for a run and plant something aroubd the outside to partially conceal it. What woulf be safe and grow enough...also still provide coverage in winter in iowa?

Excuse typeing errors...posted from phone.

 

[HandsomeRyan]

Euonymus is a fast growing, inexpensive evergreen shrub that should be readily available. Also what about wooden privacy fencing?

 

[4 the Birds]

Until I get the laws changed here I'm looking into idea for a stealth run. I'd like to use a large dog kennel for a run and plant something aroubd the outside to partially conceal it. What woulf be safe and grow enough...also still provide coverage in winter in iowa?

Excuse typeing errors...posted from phone.

You could plant Arborvitae bushes. We love the emerald green's up around the house and they can grow 15 ft high! We have several Giant Arbs along a property line and they can grow 3 ft/year and get 60+ ft tall! IMHO I would just add wind block screen fabric to the run fencing that faces the road/neighbors. The real concern with having chickens "covertly" is that they are more likely to be HEARD than seen by close by neighbors. If they don't like you or the sounds from your chickens then they may complain to local authorities.

 

[Tegan]

Yeah, I hear you on the sound. It's a concern, but I'm using a cultural barrier to help with that. That may be horrible of me, but if it works it works. My neighbors on the closest side to where I want to put the chickens are not from the US and pretty much keep to themselves. So I'm hoping their lack of knowledge of the laws here and the fact that they probably don't want to stir the pot with any neighbors will keep them out of my business (I know that makes me a bad person...but if it works to my advantage....). Plus they NEVER open their windows....like...in two years I've not seen one open window on their house, and they have only one window on the side of the house that the chicks will be on. If I can screen the chickens visually from the other neighbors I'm pretty sure they wont be able to figure out where the noise is from plus I'm hoping for bushes or other plants to act like a sound buffer.

I have talked to my other next door neighbor, and all he did was laugh when I told him I wanted chickens LOL, so I think as long as they dont smell or wake him up I'll be fine. My issue is the people in the three houses behind us...two of them NEVER go in their back yard except to mow it (what's the point of having a yard?!?!?) and the other has two large dogs that bark all the freaking time...but he's also a douche (so could be bad)....I'm hopeful that he wont want to start a pissing war with calling me on the chickens and having me call him on the dogs all the time, plus where I want to put them he shouldn't even be able to see at all....so again, hoping he wont be able to figure it out.

Another advantage...our subdivision is currently on the EDGE of town...it's literally my house...next door neighbor...FIELD as far as the eye can see....or my house....across the street neighbor...FIELD again. So we have LOTS of weird wild life sounds all the time (as I sit here and type this the coyotes are howling about a block away.)

Also, lots of time to get everything set up. I'll be working on changing the law heavily this summer, and don't plan on getting the chickens till next spring, so I have plenty of time to build slowly...and then shut up and lay low for a while if it doesn't look like the council will budge and I need to lay low for a bit before I stealth the chicks in.

 

[4 the Birds]

Sounds good... I am a law abiding citizen and believe in rules but to tell you the truth... I would play "dumb" and go with the chickens. In most places, people can live in harmony with their chickens and neighbors without any problems. If a neighbor should call any town planners with complaints then you can work toward changing rules/laws or a solution. Asking for permission up front can be an uphill battle and only alert officials of your intentions. Just my 2 cents worth!

 

[vickichicki]

As long as you do not have a rooster crowing, I seriously doubt they would know you had chickens, let alone be loud enough for someone to call you on it.
The only time I hear noise from my girls is 'egg time'. Even then, it does not last long, it is quieter than a dog barking or the grass being mowed.
As long as you do not decide on a flock of 5000 you should be good.

I suggest doubling the walls for the coop (making sure you leave in adequate ventilation) it would help deaden the sound, maybe sandwich some foam board in between.

Not familiar with the foliage in your area but some boxwoods are quick growing and as long as they are trimmed back yearly should thicken up fast. maybe a double row of them to be sure.

 

[JackE]

I lived in a deed restricted neighborhood. I could not move out of there fast enough. I found that there are people that just LOOOOOOVE to use the deed restriction rules as a cudgel to beat you over the head with. Not to mention state or county rules they can get their hands on to use. I found it is like a hobby to some people, to get in other people's business.
In a neighborhood, there is NO WAY you are going to be able to keep these chickens a secret. They can be noisy sometimes, and not just roosters. Some of them, when they lay an egg, seem to want to let the whole world know. They'll start bagalking on the nest, in the coop, then they'll come outside and bagalk some more. Then, of course, sometimes one of her friends or two, will join in with the celebration. I get a kick out of it, and think it's kinda funny. But you can just bet, there will be some a-hole, that's gonna have their sensibilities assaulted, and are going to take offence, and will just HAVE to do something about it.
My suggestion, MOVE.(That's just what I did) Move to where you can do what you want. And that's getting harder to do, as it is. You'll save yourself a lot of aggravation and frustration fighting against the machine.
Jack

 

[yyz0yyz0]

Sounds good... I am a law abiding citizen and believe in rules but to tell you the truth... I would play "dumb" and go with the chickens. In most places, people can live in harmony with their chickens and neighbors without any problems. If a neighbor should call any town planners with complaints then you can work toward changing rules/laws or a solution. Asking for permission up front can be an uphill battle and only alert officials of your intentions. Just my 2 cents worth!

+1 on this response. Easier to ask forgiveness then permission.........

 

[Tegan]

I would LOVE to move....but it's just not feasible. I would really like to be legal...and since I have time I'm going to work on that....but failing that I still plan to get my chickens.