Questions for outlaws!

[VigilanteChick]

Hello! I hope this is the right place to post. I've been dreaming of keeping chickens in my backyard for about a year, and I think I'm getting close to bringing a few chicks home. Sadly, chickens are illegal in my town, though I do know that there are some families keeping illegal chickens not too far away. I have two questions for those of you who fly under the radar:

1. How do you keep people from finding out? I've read here that chickens can be very loud when they sing their egg song. How do you manage to keep the neighbors from hearing? Is insulating the coop enough to dampen the song? If you are illegal, did you go to the neighbors first and talk about it? or did you wait til you had some eggs to take along? or have you opted not to tell them?

2. Do you feel like you can fully enjoy your chickens knowing that they aren't allowed and may need to be re-homed if the wrong person discovers that they exist? Do you worry a lot, or is the joy they bring totally worth it?

I have a big privacy fence, and I'm up on a hill, so I know that no one would be able to see into the yard, but I'm not sure if I could keep them from hearing a proud mama hen.

Thanks for your thoughts!! CovertChicks

 

[b.hromada]

I'm definately illegal here. Yes, they can get loud when they do the egg song. And yes, I've been in trouble with animal control. What I do, doesn't work for everyone, thats for sure. I keep my girls inside until they lay their eggs, then they go outside for the rest of the afternoon, until its time to come in, when it starts to get dark. I feel its well worth the effort, I love my girls to pieces!! I've been very lucky, and the ACO hasn't been here in over 9 months now!!

I think chickens are worth all the work, no matter what!!

You live on a hill, that should help you out a lot. Sounds like you've got a little distance between homes? You probably won't have any problems. Keep up posted. Best of luck to you.

 

[Mom 2em All]

Im illegal- and Ive had to get rid of my hens because of a neighbor (NEXT DOOR- I know it) complaint.
And I did get rid of my four hens.
And then I waited two years, built a better coop and have my girls again- two years no complaint from the neighbors. One close call where the city came to my other neighbors house and said they had a complaint about me having a bunch of dogs and POSSIBLY chickens..meaning they were out in the neighborhood and THOUGHT they heard a chicken (I have one who needs to GO, she is very LOUD).

My one neighbor doesnt care, the people who live behind me do not care- see them out in my yard, and the other side doesnt care as long as my hens do NOT wake him up. I give eggs to the neighbors ALL the time. I let some time go by, then I run a dozen or so over to them- bribery, perhaps, or just being neighborly.

I keep my hen house and yard very very clean- no smell. And I never complain about everything in my neighborhood that drives me crazy..stupid barking neighbor dog, teenager two doors down revvin his engine all summer/fall long, other neighbors frequent traffic/visitors that speed down the street. Three doors down the other direction, the man is building a race car- and he has been building a race car for ten years. That thing is loud enough to wake the dead...I don't complain. Next door neighbor teen blaring rap music all afternoon in the back yard all summer long...these are some of the things I put up with in order to have my hens.

I find it very worth it. The chickens give me relaxation, I truly enjoy spending time out there with them, after a long day at work. I love watching them dust bathe, hunt for goodies in the grass- and of course, eggs.
I have their yard surrounded by climbing flowering vines and roses and I make an effort to keep my yard very well maintained. About twelve feet from their yard, I planted flowering butterfly bushes. This is to help disguise them, but also to muffle their sounds.

Good luck. I hope you find a way to keep chickens.

As an aside, the teenage neighbors behind me just had a police bust. The police removed AK-47s, sawed off shotguns, and illegal pistols from the home. You would think my city officials would have bigger worries to take up their time other than worrying about illegal chickens. I find it a very big contrast- almost laughable.

 

[Slywoody]

My girls are all outlaws and so far we are doing fine. I did get caught once quite a few yrs ago but, i learned a lot from that and now have a much more covert operation. A few of my friends and neighbors know but, through a lot of discussion, they hate the chicken Gestapo

as much as i do. I went in knowing i may get caught again. At that point, i'll lay low for awhile and then fire back up again. I will never give up, Sorry, just can't do it.

It does add a lot more challenge and i'm up for it.

 

[VigilanteChick]

Thanks for the thoughts!!

WOW! AK-47's next door??? I would hope the City Officials have more important things to do than snoop around for chickens.

Slywoody, what did you change when you started up the second time? Anything I might keep in mind from the start?

Anyone else??

Thanks!

 

[12GAGirl]

I guess I am lucky enough I don't have to worry about silly laws agaisnt chickens. my two-cents is the laws that mkes having chickens on your own land is UN-American. People owning chickens is as an American as apple pie and and the American flag!! Yes, I know they are noisey and yes I know they can get out and tear up other people's land but to make it illegal that is agaisnt my American right. If I lived in a city where it was illegal I would most certain try and fins loop holes in the printed laws and work on getting the law taken off the books.

 

[Slywoody]

Quote:

The first thing i did is hide the coop and the run from the road in back of a tall fence. I also have less chickens. I'm trying to stay away from roos although i do have 2 tiny Seramas and they are not that loud.

 

[VigilanteChick]

Thanks!! I think I may be bringing chicks home in about 2 weeks!!

 

[Captain Cluck]

Even though chickens are perfectly legal in my town, my husband is building my coops to be totally disguised. I may have to wait a little longer to get my chooks, but it will be worth it. We have a neighbor who is the yard nazi and wants all yards to have only green lawns. No veggies, no bushes, no chooks, nothing. Well, maybe a pool and swing set.

My husband is going to build the cattle panel hoop houses for gardening and put the coops and rabbit hutches inside some of those. That will provide shade, muffle the sounds and hide the chooks, ducks & rabbits. We will be planting vines all over the outside and use tarps in the winter. We figure planting the vines first will hide the coop when it is added later and the chooks when they get put in.

I don't mind keeping my birds quiet, but this neighbor's grandkids are the loudest I've ever heard, so what's the difference?

(edited for spelling.)

 

[VigilanteChick]

Thanks for all the thoughts! I'm definitely going to keep these in mind. I like the hoop house/garden idea. I hope it works for you!
I ordered the chicks! I'm going to be a covert chicken mama!!