One of my chickens is currently living in my bathtub (pecking injury), and has been there for a couple of days. Having lived with a roommate's parrots before, I would definitely rank the chicken as a better housepet.
Compared to the parrot, my chicken is quieter, nicer (doesn't bite), and about the same on odor and dander.
The parrot is more annoying (telephone noises, and repeats various things you wish you hadn't taught it to say), generally noisy, carves up your furniture or woodwork, and wants to watch TV all day.
In all seriousness, most city codes will have a section called "definitions", in which they will define "Livestock" and maybe "Poultry" and "Pets". Read the definition of pets and see if you can make the argument that your chickens meet that definition.
Chickens are not livestock their poultry. If you look at different laws on not being able to have livestock it will specifically say poultry or chickens if they are included also
Eeps!! As a retired Military person, I suggest you go around and talk to your neighbors, one complaint, and that's it. Depending on the Head MFWIC of the Cop Shop, and the Base/Post Commander, they can kick you right off the base in a heartbeat.
I found the Municipal code for Greensboro NC, you're right, you could have had up to 20 depending on the size of your lot there, but that's NOT going to help you on base. On a military base/post, chickens are whatever the base commander says they are. If he says they're little green apples, that's what they are.
Are chickens livestock for my area? I couldn't say. I do know that my county zoning regulations allow me 51 horses on the size acreage I have, which is absolutly insane! 3 mules can turn this place into a barren watseland, if they had access to all of it 24/7. I just figure if a complaint ever comes up, I'll just ask them if they would like me to replace the 49 chickens with 48 horses instead.
It has been my experience that chickens are poultry. Laws around the care, treatment and handling of poultry (and fish; they are held in the same regard as poulty in the US) are different than the laws regarding the treatment of livestock, especially in a commercial setting. This is why I think the overall treatment of commercial poultry is so terrible in most states.
In my town, chickens fall under noise ordinances, which is why I have hens
regardless, my neighbors love my girls, and their eggs !
Ya'all are missing an important point, whatever your 'local' laws say chickens are, a Military Base is FEDERAL property. They don't pay local or state taxes on a base because of it, and they have their own Military Police force, local or state police and county sheriffs are not allowed past the gate without the base commander's permission.
Oh, believe me, I sympathize with the OP. I was a proud member of the military for 20+ years, but I did by best to live off base whenever possible. The convenience of living on base is a WONDERFUL thing, your neighbors are all incredibly helpful and sympathetic most of the time because you are all in the same boat together. When kids are involved, your neighbors all help keep an eye on all the kids, the kids are incredibly safe, and though nothing is perfect and weirdos are everywhere, there's usually so many 'eyes' watching all the kids, the danger is minimalized. Thing is, all the neighbors understand life as we all know it on the job... and when you're in the military, you are 'on duty' 24/7, even when you're on vacation (leave) you can be back to the job with a phone call, and you darn well better be able to be reached at the number you left on your leave form.
Civilians rarely understand the whole concept, but the Base Commander can walk in your door without knocking. He/she wouldn't dream of doing it, but it's always best to know that they CAN.