wayb_BYC
Songster
Okay, I'm a newcomer here, but I have lived all over the country and have local government experience, including dealing with neighbor feuds--which is what this is. It's not so much about the chickens, it's that OP and her neighbor hate each other and have entered into a Hatfield and McCoy war with each trying to hurt or punish the other as much as possible. The chickens are just being used as leverage within this larger feud.
So, I have some opinions that are going to be difficult to hear and are going to hurt to listen to--but trust me when I tell you I'm one of the few people in this thread that is going to tell OP the truth about her situation. We all want to be supportive, and all of us understands the good that chickens bring to a family and even a neighborhood and the unfair, frankly ridiculous restrictions that are put on their keeping, considering they are less noisy and smelly and troublesome than most dogs or cats.
So, here's the cold hard truth of it, @Smileybans--Your chickens are banned by law in your municipality, and no one is on your side. You've made enemies of everyone you've attempted to work with, either by being threatening, being viewed as unreasonable, or just by being a pest. Yes, you can apply for a variance--but the same people who have **already ruled** on your case have already said you have to get rid of the chickens.
I know **I know** you love these birds and they are your world and you've dedicated nearly every waking hour of your days for months and months dedicated to worrying and scheming on how to keep them---but you can't. The worry and dread and anticipation of having to get rid of your chickens--for months, I assure you, is worse than actually rehoming your flock. This stress of this war and these chickens is not only impacting your mental health, but it is also negatively impacting your relationship with your husband, it has impacted your kids (CPS was called, even if it was a vindictive call, your kids have been dragged into this war) and NONE of this human trauma is worth keeping some chickens, no matter your emotional attachment to them. This emotional tie to them balanced with what it is costing you is unhealthy. It is selfish, and it's hurting you, your family, and is continuing the war with your neighbor and alienating all of your allies.
If life was fair, you WOULD be able to keep those chickens, because they aren't hurting anyone--but life isn't fair, and you have a shitty neighbor who escalated things to the city and now you're screwed. You were in the wrong when you originally got the chickens, and now you've been found out--your best chance was a petition--but you tried that and by your own admission you couldn't even get a handful of people willing to sign on. People in your municipality don't want chickens. Your neighbors don't want you to have chickens. The law says you can't have chickens. Therefore, you can't have chickens.
Your choice is to either rehome the chickens to people who will appreciate and care for them as you'd like them to be cared for, then work through your pain and grief and get through it as best you can---
Or
You can continue to dedicate your life, and drag your family along with you to stressing and worrying and scheming and warring only to eventually lose the war. The city WILL make you get rid of those chickens, even if they have the sheriff come and physically remove them, which you definitely don't want. You can try and hide and ignore them and let them fine you, but the city will get its way, and if you wait too long, those birds that you love so much are going to end up injured or where they end up will be completely out of your hands.
Again, I know this sucks--it sucks bad. I personally have anxiety issues and although I could never say I know and understand what you're going through, I have some sympathy for what you might be feeling. It's horrible and all-encompassing. I am sure, though, that letting go is the healthier and proper path here. Let the birds go---let the war go, and focus your efforts instead towards moving to a place where you can build a peaceful life of your dreams, away from your toxic neighbors and your small political town, where you can be sure that you can build a flock that won't be threatened again.
I truly am sorry you've been placed in this position, but you have the power and the ability to stop the pain and drama by finding good homes for your birds and being an example to your kids of how to handle a difficult decision and doing the right thing even if it hurts.
So, I have some opinions that are going to be difficult to hear and are going to hurt to listen to--but trust me when I tell you I'm one of the few people in this thread that is going to tell OP the truth about her situation. We all want to be supportive, and all of us understands the good that chickens bring to a family and even a neighborhood and the unfair, frankly ridiculous restrictions that are put on their keeping, considering they are less noisy and smelly and troublesome than most dogs or cats.
So, here's the cold hard truth of it, @Smileybans--Your chickens are banned by law in your municipality, and no one is on your side. You've made enemies of everyone you've attempted to work with, either by being threatening, being viewed as unreasonable, or just by being a pest. Yes, you can apply for a variance--but the same people who have **already ruled** on your case have already said you have to get rid of the chickens.
I know **I know** you love these birds and they are your world and you've dedicated nearly every waking hour of your days for months and months dedicated to worrying and scheming on how to keep them---but you can't. The worry and dread and anticipation of having to get rid of your chickens--for months, I assure you, is worse than actually rehoming your flock. This stress of this war and these chickens is not only impacting your mental health, but it is also negatively impacting your relationship with your husband, it has impacted your kids (CPS was called, even if it was a vindictive call, your kids have been dragged into this war) and NONE of this human trauma is worth keeping some chickens, no matter your emotional attachment to them. This emotional tie to them balanced with what it is costing you is unhealthy. It is selfish, and it's hurting you, your family, and is continuing the war with your neighbor and alienating all of your allies.
If life was fair, you WOULD be able to keep those chickens, because they aren't hurting anyone--but life isn't fair, and you have a shitty neighbor who escalated things to the city and now you're screwed. You were in the wrong when you originally got the chickens, and now you've been found out--your best chance was a petition--but you tried that and by your own admission you couldn't even get a handful of people willing to sign on. People in your municipality don't want chickens. Your neighbors don't want you to have chickens. The law says you can't have chickens. Therefore, you can't have chickens.
Your choice is to either rehome the chickens to people who will appreciate and care for them as you'd like them to be cared for, then work through your pain and grief and get through it as best you can---
Or
You can continue to dedicate your life, and drag your family along with you to stressing and worrying and scheming and warring only to eventually lose the war. The city WILL make you get rid of those chickens, even if they have the sheriff come and physically remove them, which you definitely don't want. You can try and hide and ignore them and let them fine you, but the city will get its way, and if you wait too long, those birds that you love so much are going to end up injured or where they end up will be completely out of your hands.
Again, I know this sucks--it sucks bad. I personally have anxiety issues and although I could never say I know and understand what you're going through, I have some sympathy for what you might be feeling. It's horrible and all-encompassing. I am sure, though, that letting go is the healthier and proper path here. Let the birds go---let the war go, and focus your efforts instead towards moving to a place where you can build a peaceful life of your dreams, away from your toxic neighbors and your small political town, where you can be sure that you can build a flock that won't be threatened again.
I truly am sorry you've been placed in this position, but you have the power and the ability to stop the pain and drama by finding good homes for your birds and being an example to your kids of how to handle a difficult decision and doing the right thing even if it hurts.
I wish this all didn’t feel so
