what to do?

[NatureLove11]

Just recently i was looking at the ordinance of my area because it really and honestly never occurred to me that keeping chickens is illegal. Well guess what it is

But thats not really my problem, my problem is i have to hide them from the inspector thats coming to check on unfinished shed that we are building and will hide our coop from everyone but he wont be checking just once he'll be checking multiple times and the other problem is the neighbors

. I have them outside in a little box with a run attached and they seem to be fine with the small space no picking no nothing and all healthy and all hidden on the side of my house. I really want to tell my neighbors but im affraid that they might turn me in if the inspector doesnt! So my ?s are what can i do and also has anyone had neighbors snitch on them after you told them you have chickens?

P.S. I live on three plus acres of land with a farm in my backyard...literally hes farming on some of our land with beans, corn, and cattle and we cant get it back because they said hes been there longer even though my parents are paying theyre tax dollars on it and our coop is nowhere near anyone of our neighbors homes just so you know and we are getting rid of our rooster sometime (actually until he crows).

 

[can you hear me now?]

Sorry hope someone more urban than chimes in, my area is all rural and we all like the crowing roos. Here is your bump.

 

[jaj121159]

Are you inside the city limits? With a farm in your backyard, and your lot size, you may be able to change the zoning on your acreage to match the zoning of the farm. If the farm is in a different jurisdiction, change your zoning to get as close to what the farm is zoned as possible. Not knowing even what state you are in, or what type of governmental unit (city, village, county, township, parrish, shire, etc.) makes it hard to give specific advice.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

As for the farmer using our land, you need to verify how long your parents have had title to the land, how long he has been using it, and whether he has ever filed with a court for title by adverse possession or an easement by prescription. The legal requirements for obtaining land by either of these methods vary by state. If y'all acquired the land sometime after he began using it, but before he got a court order granting him title or an easement, the clock was reset to zero on his use when your parent's bought the property.

Find out exactly what your zoning and permitted uses are, and either copy them here or post a link. Chances are pretty high that if you have three acres, you are allowed at least a small number of chickens.

 

[Danaus29]

It would help some if we knew what state you live in. Some state laws are easy to google and there might be another poster here who knows your state law. In Ohio if you have a survey done and have been paying the property taxes the farmer cannot continue to farm your land legally unless he is paying you rent. Ohio has squatters rights but no adverse possesion.

As for the chickens, can you send them away until the building is finished? That would be the best thing to do.

 

[NatureLove11]

Oh im sorry i live in central illinois everyone

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Looks like the timeframe to establish titled ownership via adverse possession in Illinois in 20 years. In Ohio, 21 years. There was a landmark case in Ohio a couple of years ago.

 

[desertdarlene]

Wow, what a bad situation. I don't know how to help you, but good luck!