We need your help-Got another letter from the town

[perfectly_polish]

Quote:
The lady I talked to did say I could file a varriance, but she said we would most likely loose, she's real positive

And it's not like we just got the chickens, I've had chickens for 8 or 9 years and they are just complaining about it now!

 

[robinaggie]

Oh shoot - I think the term is laches. They waited too long to complain, so you're ok. Try it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laches_(equity)

 

[ginasmarans]

I read our laws on farm animals, and it states that a farm animal is any animal that produces food or fiber. Yes, our chickens produce eggs, but that is just natural. We don't use them for food or fiber, just pets and show. I really don't have any neighbors but I do know of a lot of people who keep chickens around me, and haven't had a problem..yet.


Every female (I think) produces eggs of some kind,so if you don't eat the eggs, they're not food,right? And,you are not in the habit of wearing feathers,ae you? I'd deny that yours are farm animals.Under that definition, if you saved all the hair your dog shed and weaved into a hat,it would be a farm animal.Good luck

 

[perfectly_polish]

Quote:
Well see I have to decide what I want to do. Do I want to state that we don't use them for food, or say that we do and that we depend on them for food because we can't afford it locally? Which would be a better argument?

 

[onthespot]

eggs are dual pupose. Tell them you sell the eggs on ebay and eggbid and they are a small hobby enterprise.

 

[perfectly_polish]

Quote:
Would we have more of a fight is we say that the chickens supply some of our income(selling eggs, and chickens) and they supply our food?

 

[tiki244]

I really dont think it matters if they are food or pets in the long run. You can argue one way or another but they are chickens, which is a dirty word apparently. Is it the H5N1 virus scare? The salmonella/pollurum scare? Smell? Crowing?
All a bunch of poppy cock as far as I am concerned. I am sure the people who are up in arms are thinking on the lines of health issues. Which, of course, makes no sense what so ever. They buy their groceries at the STORE, where they get pussy chicken that have been all cooped up in horrendouse conditions, probably sick, pumped with medicine. How about chicken soup? I wouldnt feed it to my dog. They get lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, peperes, at the store with salmonella, e coli. Go to fast food and get poisoned with e coli. Even in the ice cubes. Eat all those crummy chemicals that make people sick, its even in our water. Then you have to go to the big pharmaceutical companies to take drugs to get better from all the stuff we have been ingesting that is making us sick.

One bad apple can really make a stink. You got any enemies? Find out and file a harrassment suit.

Or someone doesnt like the noise. They want to play their stereos louder and let their dogs bark more. Can you sound proof your coop.?
Can you find out what the actual PROBLEM with your chickens is?
I would get a lawyer, and see what he can help you with. I bet you could get a plan together to change the ordinance.
Sea Chick is a wonderful resource, contact her. I am sorry you are going through this. I have had this happen to me but havent got the almighty sieze and disist (SP?) yet. I still have some chickens. The quiet ones. And I am hunting for a new place, which isnt easy. I have just been sleeping a lot lately because there are just so many days you can go all stressed and running on nervouse energy before you collapse.

I have been really friendly with my neighbors and asking them if there is anything wrong that I can fix(ie:eyesores, fences. etc) I am just being really careful with keeping every little thing picked up in my yard and am super vigilant right now and am being super nice to my neighbors.

Your chickens are beautiful and I sure hope you dont have to get rid of any of them. I wish you the best of luck, and we are behind you.

 

[PurpleChicken]

PP I just caught this post. If anyone can fight and win you can. Someone else in
your town had this happen too but I don't think she fought it.

 

[perfectly_polish]

If health issues is the problem, we get all are chickens tested and vaccinated every year, so I can argue that as well. I don't really have any neighbors, the ones I do have keep their distance and don't really talk to us at all. They don't smell, and the only noise is the occasional crowing rooster, but I hear dogs barking 24/7, which IMHO is way more annoying then a rooster crowing. We are building a new coop, having a coop party next week, and if we can sound proof it we will, I'll have to look into that more.

 

[perfectly_polish]

Quote:
PC just to let you know we are still willing to take/watch any chickens for you, so don't worry about that. I'd love those blue/splash orpingtons

We are getting a lawyer, and if we have to go to court it would be mean so much to us if you, your family, and the other CT BYCer's will come and support us. If we do loose we'll probably end up moving, want to by a huge farm out of state with us

I can babysit Travis