Someone HELP save my chickens!

[StephanieRose44]

Before I went and purchased 12 chicks from the LOCAL store, my fiancé and I went to town hall and asked the officials there what the laws were involving keeping chickens. The woman basically explained to me that well technically it’s 10 acres to own ANY chickens (crazy) but that this was a hush hush town, there in the works of changing the law, it should be on the agenda this summer... plenty of people around here own chickens. As long as no one complains you’ll be fine!

So long story short, my Nextdoor neighbor who is an older gentleman (who lives alone with his dog) saw the chicks the day I brought them home, he even had his dog sniff the box ( although the dog did look like he was about to pull his arm off) they were fine, as they grew through winter and finally moved outdoors he would stop by every now again with his dog same situation. Than once it got warm enough & the snow melted I let my chicks finally explore outside they loved it underneath the deck they took dustbaths & even Laid there first few eggs in old crates I had underneath. The other side of the deck was my neighbors side. A strip of grass was ours about 10-15 ft. Than a shrubby line of pine trees and than his yard. They finally discovered the area my neighbor started standing at his property with his dog ( who’s uncontrollably loud and jumpy) one of my girls rusty had no fear i fought her very close to getting nipped by him one time!!

Well now everyone has moved into the fenced garden there coops as in there (2) it’s a fairly large garden. The amount of space from neighbors property to the garden fence is about 15 ft. Ok well last June I had an exchange with him NOT ABOUT THE CHICKENS but it ended manly and I threatened to call the police on him which he deserved! i got a letter in the mail very very soon after a violation saying I had to get rid of all my chickens and coops in 4 days (literally) we got our time extended thankfully but time is running out and I really need some advice on what to do here I know there are tons of people in the area who support chickens but I don’t have much time. Can someone please help! These chickens stole my heart

 

[Jealous Gypsy]

Wow... I would start a petition do not mention your neighbor just the unfairness of the law and how it is unreasonable and outdated. How many people have that large of a lot in your town? You may win just try to fight them in townhall, but I'm also full of sassafras,


Other than that have you guys considered moving lol. Maine has some great affordable properties if you don't mind the winters

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

I'm going to be blunt here and just say that you knew the law going into this. You BROKE the law by getting chickens. If you were that concerned about keeping them you should be nicer to your neighbor. I dont know what the altercation was about nor do I really mean to pry. You need to ask yourself before you step on someones toes "is this going to matter in 5 years?" If the answer is no then dont push it. The way I see it is your neighbor was kind enough to look the other way. As for the law you can try getting a petition together but more than likely with how slow the judicial system is you will end up losing your birds regardless. Id concentrate on buttering up your neighbor to see of he can drop it. Either that or find a more suitable home for them.

 

[Jealous Gypsy]

I'm going to be blunt here and just say that you knew the law going into this. You BROKE the law by getting chickens. If you were that concerned about keeping them you should be nicer to your neighbor. I dont know what the altercation was about nor do I really mean to pry. You need to ask yourself before you step on someones toes "is this going to matter in 5 years?" If the answer is no then dont push it. The way I see it is your neighbor was kind enough to look the other way. As for the law you can try getting a petition together but more than likely with how slow the judicial system is you will end up losing your birds regardless. Id concentrate on buttering up your neighbor to see of he can drop it. Either that or find a more suitable home for them.

Even if she's nice to her neighbor, will the township drop it? Many times it's the town that takes over the violations. Especially since it is supposed to be anonymous

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

Even if she's nice to her neighbor, will the township drop it? Many times it's the town that takes over the violations. Especially since it is supposed to be anonymous

Once it goes to the town more than likely not. I would say buttering up the neighbor might help if she plans to get chickens again. But it could very well have been another neighbor that reported her. Our neighbors love our chickens and are very good neighbors. They however say we are the best neighbors theyve ever had. We help them here and there whenever we see them out and occasionally bring them free wood and eggs. It helps to be nice to your neighbors otherwise your loving situation can become similar to the OPs.

At any rate, I'm sorry but you might just have to rehome your birds. After said and done you might want to consider moving to an area that allows them.

 

[StephanieRose44]

I was even nice to him when I caught him my property (he must’ve thought no one was home because my car was getting fixed at the time) Fiance was at work...he had his dog right up against the fence to my (chicken)garden barking and yelling basically scaring the out of my chickens for no reason. Another time my girlfriend and her 4 year old were over it was hit that day (summer) and the we all were barefoot, (no where near the chickens) at least 100ft away, he was running through the sprinkler in the grass, the neighbor came out and called me over so I covered myself with a towel (had my bathing suit on) walked over to the property line and said hi he started with “do you have access to the internet?” I said yes and than he went on a whole spiel about this website about chicken’s& salmonella about us not wearing shoes ect. And actually called us “you people” which offended me although I was very polite and told him that no one was walking around barefoot in or anywhere around the chicken garden especially the child, and suggested he looked into chickens & salmonella a bit more before making assumptions & insulting a mother about her parenting and that really he should mind his own business. I walked away and he than proceeded to (EITHER PRETEND TO) Call CHild Protective Services he held the phone up to his ear and spoke very loudly. So I mention to him LOUDLY that maybe I should call the police and tell them how you were looking in my window at night while I was naked? He said “ok never mind” (to me/or the real/pretend people on the phone) very quickly & closed his phone than walked away ( the property is about 1.5 acres)

In the area 10 acres Properties I’m sure aren’t too common but I will have to look into that and see.

 

[StephanieRose44]

L

Even if she's nice to her neighbor, will the township drop it? Many times it's the town that takes over the violations. Especially since it is supposed to be anonymous

Sorry I wasn’t referring to you!

 

[StephanieRose44]

My neighbor was never kind enough to look the other way, he saw them as chicks he waited until they were all grown up set up in the back and than did what he did.

 

[StephanieRose44]

Once it goes to the town more than likely not. I would say buttering up the neighbor might help if she plans to get chickens again. But it could very well have been another neighbor that reported her. Our neighbors love our chickens and are very good neighbors. They however say we are the best neighbors theyve ever had. We help them here and there whenever we see them out and occasionally bring them free wood and eggs. It helps to be nice to your neighbors otherwise your loving situation can become similar to the OPs.

At any rate, I'm sorry but you might just have to rehome your birds. After said and done you might want to consider moving to an area that allows them.

I actually just moved here last September almost a year but the neighbors all love the chickens too except for HIM I’ve even had other neighbors tell me all he does is talk about the chickens like he’s trying to get someone on his side, they all say he thinks he’s the “neighborhood mayor” has reported many people in the neighborhood for the littlest things (a shed) I know for sure I could probably get about 90% of the people who live in my neighborhood to sign a petition. I just don’t know what to do about time, and the town like I said is in the works of changing the law so I’m hoping something can happen.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

I actually just moved here last September almost a year but the neighbors all love the chickens too except for HIM I’ve even had other neighbors tell me all he does is talk about the chickens like he’s trying to get someone on his side, they all say he thinks he’s the “neighborhood mayor” has reported many people in the neighborhood for the littlest things (a shed) I know for sure I could probably get about 90% of the people who live in my neighborhood to sign a petition. I just don’t know what to do about time, and the town like I said is in the works of changing the law so I’m hoping something can happen.

It's not that I find this funny. Its just that from the outside looking in its as if someone signed a tenant agreement to no cats or dogs and THEN gets a cat or a dog. Then is upset that they're getting kicked out. Although I do hope the best for you and hope that you can keep your birds I really feel it's best at this point to find them a home in case you do have to get rid of them. Our judicial system works very slowly I'm afraid and it might be months or years before they change the ordinance and even then it might not pass. I understand that this really sucks but if you love your birds you must consider what is best for them.