Please Share! Tips for keeping your neighbors happy (or clueless)?

[lrlt2000]

I'd love to hear from those of you who have to keep your chicks "on the down low"

What is your situation and what have you done to hide your fowl affliction!! What has worked, what hasn't?


ME:

I just joined BYC. We have three chicks who are about 5 weeks old. We live in a neighborhood with HOA rules. On animals, they say:


I've seen some posts here about RCs that specifically disallow fowl or poultry, but ours do not. I'm sure people could make the argument that chickens are not "similar household pets," if they wanted. But I'd like to avoid that. We are not particularly close with our neighbors on either side, so I'm not sure how they would feel. We are more friendly with one side than the other (we just don't see the other side often, if at all).

We actually went over to the friendly side neighbors' house last week for a glass of wine outside, and my ding-dong husband mentioned the chicks

(he's not on board with it anyway, so I'm on my own in the advocacy department). They didn't know what to say--the husband was like 'oh, I grew up with chickens my aunts had' and the wife was like 'you can't keep those outside--they'll attract coyotes!' So, who knows what they actually think. They have two boys, 6 and 10, as well as a yippee chihuahua dog they *just* got an electric fence for (before that, the loud little thing would run over to our yard).

I was thinking about sending an email (so I don't put them on the spot) just discussing my intentions a little, and putting their minds at ease. I want to let them know that I have my own home value in mind, intend to keep them clean, inconspicuous, and not noisy. I also want to let them know that if they become anything otherwise, I already have options lined up for rehoming them (I have two friends with small farms nearby and have spoken with both of them already). I also would let them know that I am always open to receive their complaints or opinions, but would like them to tell me first versus "filing a complaint" with anyone.

What do you all think!!??

 

[bantamrooster]

I think you shouldnt get too attached to them.
Good luck

 

[Odelia]

A little off topic but...I assume your profile photo is of your chicks. The one on the left has a HUGE comb for that age. I would say it is most likely you have a little cockerel you don't want to keep until it crows and alerts your whole neighborhood. Also if you want to keep chickens discreetly pick smaller quieter birds. Never fayoumis they are LOUD. Something more like a silkie or a bantam cochin. The upside to a silkie is that it doesn't even look like a chicken. Try soundproofing your coop as much as possible. Put the coop up against your house and not your fence. Keep your flock small.

 

[lrlt2000]

Odelia, yes, in my introduction I state that I'm thinking it is a he! They were all supposed to be hens, but you know how that goes. I've already been calling it "boy" and "him" I am a newbie, but even I can sense it's not a girl. And I have an experienced farmer friend who keeps telling me you really can't tell until a solid 4 months, but I'm pretty convinced it's a he!