Transitioning from roofed to roofless run

[K0k0shka]

Is an inspector definitely coming to check on compliance (wondering how they found out about it in the first place...)? If not, could you just cover with 1/2 or 1/4 inch mesh & rig the umbrellas to stick out on top?

He will be checking on it, yes, and he found out about it because my neighbor complained - to zoning, to the Health Department, to the town administrator, city council... maybe more, I don't know. He's waging full on war against me and has been wasting town resources on 5 chickens...

 

[3KillerBs]

Our town is very complaint-based, they like to let people do their thing unless somebody raises a stink. Well, my neighbor did. So the building commissioner said that, because this is a controversial structure now and the neighbor is complaining, he can't let me have it all and needs to strike a compromise.

This is, IMO, very wrong.

Not to be political, but it strikes me as un-American for rules to be based on complaints and the whims of officials instead of written laws that clearly tell people what is and is not legal with nothing to prevent people from making frivolous complaints about things that were not against the rules until some individual with nothing better to do deciding to complain.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Maybe you can tell them your birds will be louder and stink more when it rains without a roof? Sounds like everyone you’re dealing with is very ignorant so maybe they’ll believe you?

 

[Sally PB]

So sorry to hear about your situation. I am definitely NOT taking your neighbor's side, but is his complaint stemming from a certain aspect of your having chickens, or just complaining? If it's the former (noise? smell?), is there anything you can do about it? Not to appease him, but to show that you have done your part - and more! - to be a good neighbor. If it's the latter, maybe he just likes being a PITA, and unfortunately, there are people like that. (I have relatives like that, so I have first hand experience.)

I think your ideas sound like a good solution to a bad problem. My worries about the umbrellas would be concerning wind. Get the most sturdy ones you can find. Maybe if strong winds are forecast, be prepared to take them down if you have to. And, thank you for taking such good care of your chickens.

Again, so sorry you have this problem! You've made me realize how lucky I am to have the neighbors I do.

And, 3KillerBs, I agree with your comment entirely!

 

[jreardon1918]

Sorry to hear about this. Our town in the Boston area is a bit more chicken tolerant.
Could you fashion a large table in the run abutting the coop. Not ideal, but would give a few more covered square feet to be out. A couple pallets on the ends and one in the middle with a sheet of plywood. Or some long boards. I just ripped down an old deck. Got some salvageable deck boards. Free for the taking.

That and hope the PITA neighbor moves.

 

[Folly's place]

Sorry you are dealing with this, and my concern with outdoor umbrellas is snow load; none of them are meant to handle snow in winter. Do be careful about that!
The table idea is excellent; who can complain about a table?
Mary

 

[K0k0shka]

This is, IMO, very wrong.

Not to be political, but it strikes me as un-American for rules to be based on complaints and the whims of officials instead of written laws that clearly tell people what is and is not legal with nothing to prevent people from making frivolous complaints about things that were not against the rules until some individual with nothing better to do deciding to complain.

I agree, and the town does have rules and laws. But I also understand that it's impossible to write everything into law. You just can't anticipate everything people might think to build. Even the definition of a roof. What is a roof? Is it solid or flexible? Does plastic count? Is a tarp a roof? How about a shower curtain? Hardware cloth? A faux ivy screen? You can't start listing materials because you won't get them all, people will think of something else (rows of umbrellas side by side... is that a roof?) So, it's complicated. There are laws for the obvious black-and-white areas, but once you get into the grays, somebody has to figure out how to apply the law to each gray situation. I'd rather live in a complaint-based town that only interferes if there is a problem (and has the final say on what constitutes a problem), than one which tries to regulate and control every little thing.

 

[K0k0shka]

Maybe you can tell them your birds will be louder and stink more when it rains without a roof? Sounds like everyone you’re dealing with is very ignorant so maybe they’ll believe you?

Their response to "louder and stink more" is "get rid of them"

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Their response to "louder and stink more" is "get rid of them"

Ugh I didn’t think about that. I guess I’d agree with the tables. They make great roofs and perches.

 

[K0k0shka]

So sorry to hear about your situation. I am definitely NOT taking your neighbor's side, but is his complaint stemming from a certain aspect of your having chickens, or just complaining? If it's the former (noise? smell?), is there anything you can do about it? Not to appease him, but to show that you have done your part - and more! - to be a good neighbor. If it's the latter, maybe he just likes being a PITA, and unfortunately, there are people like that. (I have relatives like that, so I have first hand experience.)

I think your ideas sound like a good solution to a bad problem. My worries about the umbrellas would be concerning wind. Get the most sturdy ones you can find. Maybe if strong winds are forecast, be prepared to take them down if you have to. And, thank you for taking such good care of your chickens.

Again, so sorry you have this problem! You've made me realize how lucky I am to have the neighbors I do.

And, 3KillerBs, I agree with your comment entirely!

There is no specific problem with the chickens. The neighbor has been harassing the Health Department all summer and I've been inspected at least a dozen times. They've never found any smells, noise problems, filth or anything else. In fact, they've complimented me on how well taken care of the chickens are and how well I've addressed potential issues (cleanliness, pests, etc.) So the chickens are fine. He just doesn't want them there because he doesn't want them there.