Stupid ordinance

[Pam Allan]

I had the code enforcer out here a couple months ago to see if I could something about the nitwits next door with their 4-wheelers and dirt bikes (no problems lately, but wanted to know my options in case it starts up again) - anyway he informs me that I have to have my chicken food 200 feet from the neighbors house. My lot is a long narrow 2-acre lot and is barely 200 feet wide. My chicken pen has to be 200 from his house too - He's not doing anything because no one has complained but he was just telling me about it.
Where do I live? I live in a rural area with 300 acres of cattle pasture behind me. A 200+ acre tree farm in front of me and a vacant lot on the one side and the rednecks on the other. This rule is absolutely stupid. I told him I was keeping the food in the house - he told me it still has to be 200 feet from the neighbor's house. Of course it isn't - it's now closer because I bought two galvanized garbage cans and put the food out back so it would be easier to feed the kids. BTW - the neighbors have the right to ride their stupid toys all day and up until 10 pm week days and 12 midnight weekends. But my chicken food location is out of code.

 

[squeakyballs]

What are you talking about? Your chickens eat grass and bugs and people-food scraps. Why, they are practically free range! All that grain you keep inside? That's for making whole grain bread!

 

[squeakyballs]

We have a huge problem with the ATV's here. I call the cops almost weekly to complain about them speeding up and down the road, and about the excessive noise. We aren't the only ones that call...

One hit-and-ran a kid a few weeks ago.

 

[nonseq]

So where do you keep your dog food?

 

[Pam Allan]

The dog food is in the house. That's probably out of the code too! This is just so stupid.
As for feeding the chickens cracked corn and crumbles - don't they need that also? They free range but to me they need a supplement to add to all those bugs and stuff. I've got 9 babies and they definitely need some chick food although they also free range with mom all day. I do give my chickens whole wheat bread, watermelon and some table scraps. They LOVE watermelon.

 

[squeakyballs]

LOL I'm pretty sure they need that stuff, too. Although there are specific mixes (if you poke around here you should be able to find recipes) that just use grains.

I meant... just lie a little ;-) Even re-container it. It isn't like they can search your house.

 

[redhen]

Just tell him that you dont feed your chickens... they eat bugs and grass and weeds...

 

[Pam Allan]

The guy from the county isn't doing anything to me - he knows I'm not up to code but he said as long as no one complains he's not doing anything. And if someone complains they will have to deal with me turning them in for everything wrong step they make.
The chicken food is no longer in the house - I moved it to the field and put it in galvanized garbage cans - so it's actually closer to the neighbors house LOL. I can guarantee you he doesn't care where my food is.
I can see me trying to convince the guy from county that the bags of chicken crumble and scratch feed are for my bread consumption

Tucson Tofu - you have my sympathy with the ATV problem. I HATE those things. People who ride them don't care who they bother or what land they destroy. I spend my life figuring out ways not to be home in case they start up again next door. I hate living like this.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I seriously doubt storing the chicken feed in your house is actually against code; If you were storing it OUTSIDE your house, such as on the porch, it sounds like it might be. Verify the written letter of the law before expecting that everything a code enforcer says is accurate.