Saw my neighbor at the grocery store...

[coffeychicks]

I got the same reactions when I started 3 years ago with 5 birds I am now at 41 my birds were and are my therapy birds. When I was going threw chemo I would love to sit in the yard and watch my birds

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I agree with everyone else, give those neighbors some of your delicious eggs and they'll likely feel differently about your chickens.

When we first started building our coop, our immediate neighbors pretty much did the same thing. They went on and on about how noisy, smelly and loud they would be. The wife told the same story about her being flogged by a rooster when she was a child about a dozen times.

Well, when we brought our little starter flock home and were finally getting more eggs than we needed, I took them 18. She thanked me profusely and even brought me a sampling of the custard she'd made from them. It was delicious, more so than the custard she usually made from store bought eggs, according to her. That was the day she asked to meet my chickens, and fell head over heels in love with them. So much so that she started saving all of her veggie and fruit scraps for them and would visit them at least weekly so she could feed it to them. Her husband still didn't give a hoot about them, but he minded them A LOT less as long as she kept making that custard

Best of luck with your new chickies

 

[DelcoChix]

Enjoy the ride, and get your neighbors over to the good side--won't take long, guaranteed. If you do as you'd said, keep them clean,etc. they won't know you have them. And I totally agree, give them a few extra eggs when they finally start to lay, maybe even invite them over to check out the new chick pad when the fluffy butts arrive. Don't feel like you have to hide or avoid them--they're speaking from total ignorance (not meant in a mean way, mind you). Chickens DO stink and make messes.....but so do dogs, cats, and children. That's why we're here, to take care of them and clean up after them.
No matter what some folks say regarding "screw 'em, the chickens are legal so deal with it," it really makes life so much better when you have them on your side--even if they don't get on board 100% it won't be because you tried to sneak something past them. Educate them and bring them over from the dark side...it's worth it!

 

[DYarbro97]

Just think, you will have plenty of eggs to throw at their house.........just sayin.

 

[Blammmo]

Glad I don't have neighbors!!!

 

[Celizwalsh]

Her husband still didn't give a hoot about them, but he minded them A LOT less as long as she kept making that custard

LMAO! sounds like my dad. The first batch of chickens we got my dad wanted NOTHING to do with them. Now with our second flock he wants to build things for them, make sure they are tucked in at night, AND he even reinforced our coop doors/windows when he found out how crafty some predators can be. Give your neighbors some time and fresh eggs hopefully they will come around. Remeber you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar!

 

[DoubletakeFarm]

When we were putting our fencing in a neighbor stopped by and asked me what we were putting in. I smiled and said "oh, we're getting pigs!" We have alpacas, chickens, geese and rabbits and no complaints from the neighbors!

 

[JAZsMom]

Yep, my neighbors had that look in their eyes, but bit their tongues! We rented chickens a month ago to see if they would be a good pet for us, to see if I'd be able to deal with taking care of them and how allergic I'd be. Took a week and we were in love- and I'm not allergic!!!!! (I can't even be in my sister in laws ultra clean home for 15 minutes without needing Benadryl and my inhaler because her girls have one hamster!) Just got our chicks last week and are on our way to having our own flock (we get to keep the rented ones for another 3 weeks). Meanwhile, an Animal Services van pulled up in front of my house today and I started to freak out- was scared someone called them about our girls!! Turns out there was a rabid raccoon on the loose a block away. Deep exhale! (they are legal, but I still got scared LOL) Good luck!

 

[FowlinDown2012]

Personally I've been raised around chickens my whole life... Having farms on both sides of the family I would help feed, water, and gather eggs on a weekly basis. Ever since I moved out on my own I've wanted to get back into the chicken life and now that I have my own home I can do it. Most laws in the US aren't against have chickens. Of course if your in city limits they limit you as to how many you can have and say whether or not your allowed a rooster. But, the upkeep is fairly easy with chickens!! Clean the chicken coop once every two weeks or so and if your making a stationary chicken run it's not a bad idea to till up the dirt every couple of months... this is what we do on our farms and it's always helped keep the smell down and the chickens healthy. Don't let anybody turn you away from birds... they are a very hobby to have!!

 

[Spongegirl]

"oh, well I can promise that I wont kill your dog!" Judgmental jerks. grrrrrrr. Read the predators and pests threads and see how everyone deals with neighbors dogs. You don't have to put up with that crap. They will let those dogs roam just to see if they can get some chicken dinner. And if they let them roam, they will find your flock and kill them, breaking in runs, coops, and fences. Neighbors and their dogs get me soooooo freakin mad! It's the same as saying "we could care less about your property".
My family thinks I'm nuts too. None of them know a single thing about chickens, yet criticize me for it. Keep that balloon inflated and soar sky high, baby!