Washingtonians

[Mia_]

Quote:
I may be wrong about this, but I think 4' from the property line is not legal. Perhaps you could check with the local authorities, maybe a GC on this thread anyone? When we had our workshop built only 5 years ago, our contractor said it had to be 6' from the property line. He said all buildings had to be 6 feet away. (We have a very narrow property and wanted the workshop right by the property line). Maybe it's because we are not in the city.

But do check - if it really is too close, then she can't really complain about your chickens, maybe

Here, you can build to the property line, you just have to do it before your neighbor does. I think the buildings have to be at least 3 or 4' apart In the picture of my coop, you can see that her garage/shop (it goes from property line to property line, across the back) is right on the property line. And the shed is exactly 3' from it.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/97870_dirty_coop.jpg

I should mention that my house was built in 1906, and the rest of the houses in this neighborhood are about the same age.

 

[Mia_]

Quote:
Go to HD. Spend around $10.00 on chicken wire.
Go inside your run make a new chicken wire wall exactly an inch over the requirements.

Call the city inspector.

Have him come out see the new wall that makes the run the required length away from neighbors house.

Have chickens in the run not free ranging at the time.

Get it signed off.

Ask if the city is going to send a signed off copy to neighbor.
If not request they do.

If they say that isn't their job ask them who pays their salary.
Will OK, that's something I would do two inches from their face.

Instead, send copy certified mail to your neighbor.

The city inspector has been out, the chickens were in the coop (not even in the run). He said if he signed off on that and then they got out of the run then they would be be a "public nuisance," which is a much larger fine.

 

[Stumpfarmer]

Quote:
The coop is against the back property line and is far enough away, the run is not. Also, they get the run of the yard all day. It is hard to keep the birds 50' away from the neighbor's house on a 50' wide lot and the neighbor's house is 4' off the property line.

I may be wrong about this, but I think 4' from the property line is not legal. Perhaps you could check with the local authorities, maybe a GC on this thread anyone? When we had our workshop built only 5 years ago, our contractor said it had to be 6' from the property line. He said all buildings had to be 6 feet away. (We have a very narrow property and wanted the workshop right by the property line). Maybe it's because we are not in the city.

But do check - if it really is too close, then she can't really complain about your chickens, maybe

Thurston County and Pierce County might as well be on separate planets when it comes to stuff like setbacks and outbuilding definitions- it's one reason small contractors from here often don't work there: too many conflicting rules, you'd think the Nisqually was an ocean.

 

[JenBirdRansom]

Mia, feel like taking it to the courts?

On the grounds that you would not have gotten the chickens if she had not said yes in the first place. Under oath she can lie, of course.....but would she be dumb enough to? Anyone you had the "my neighbor said yes" conversation with (where you got the birds, feed store, friends, relatives, had you posted it on Facebook?) Did you post it here as "My neighbor said yes so now I can"? If you can make a case with evidence that you were told YES then I'd go for it! It's not that expensive and you'd be able to keep your girls. Also, as I've been in court many times (as a landlord) judges LOVE it when people have made every effort to resolve the issue out of court first. But keep copies of everything and put together a portfolio of sorts of your conversations and whatnot. Do everything in writing. First take a letter over stating that you would not have gotten the birds if she had not allowed it in the first place and then offer to her that you would like to resolve this out of court. Don't threaten or be overly aggressive but do be direct. I know you've already had these conversations but now doing it in writing will be better for a court case. Explain that you have documentation from "X" sources of her initial allowance of the birds. THEN offer to come part way....maybe reduce the flock or limit the free ranging time. Install fly strips and mouse traps (I know you don't NEED to do these things but it shows compromise)....

Just an idea. And yes you have a Friday deadline but explaining to the inspector that you have filed with the courts should buy you more time.

If you make it to the judge you'll be smelling like a rose with proof that she said yes, your attempt to compromise, and your willingness to accommodate her concerns.

 

[Mia_]

When I went out, released the hens for the day, and checked the nest boxes, guess what I found?

You want the pullets that laid these. You can have big brown eggs every morning. You have to have them. You are willing to drive to Tacoma to get them. You need these pullets. You will bring your own box.

 

[SadieSue]

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Do your pullets give you delicious Reese's Christmas Trees as well? Those are very special chickens and would truly be a bargain @ $15.00 each!

 

[Mia_]

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Do your pullets give you delicious Reese's Christmas Trees as well? Those are very special chickens and would truly be a bargain @ $15.00 each!

No, I put that there for scale, so you could see how big the eggs are.

 

[Greg Richardson]

Mia.

The city inspector has been out, the chickens were in the coop (not even in the run). He said if he signed off on that and then they got out of the run then they would be be a "public nuisance," which is a much larger fine.

Put up your new chicken wire wall making your run legal size.

Make sure chickens are OUT of coop closing coop door if you have to when inspector comes to inspect new run so he observes them in the new run.

You can do many things in a run your size to keep your chickens happy like, straw, grass, plants, bird seed, all thrown in there.

You could reduce your flock size in order to give them more room.

If your chickens can get out of your run then that means preditors can get in your run and you can solve that with simple chicken wire to keep them from flying out if that is the problem.

By reducing flock size they can be very happy in that run and you get eggs along with not letting miserable people manipulate your lifestyle as well as quality of life eating food you know where it came from.​

 

[Mia_]

Quote:
If you looked at the picture, you can see that the run is completely enclosed, and I did mention earlier that my cat has been trapped in there overnight more than once. In covering the gate with plastic chicken wire, I made the decision to allow something out rather than allow something in, with how the overlap was. The run is pretty much preditor proof, well as long as the predator is smaller than a bear.

 

[christina09]

Hello i am in Kennewick washington andhave 25 various hens and 1 roo......Loving it and love my chickens alot! I think they are wonderful pets...getting up to 24 eggs aday.....So glad to meet you all:yiipchick