Writing Letter to Landlord Asking for Permission to Keep Chickens

[Ninaz89]

Hi everyone,

I am hoping to become a rookie backyard chicken-er, but the people who manage the property I live on have asked me to write a letter asking for permission so that they can send it to the man who actually owns the house.

I live in Gainesville, FL. And we are allowed 2 hens per residence. I was going to include the city ordinance in my letter, but I don;t know what else to say.

They said that he may be concerned about noise issues, and aesthetics of the yard?

Does anyone have any ideas for me, or even a sample of something they've written?

Thanks!
-Nina

 

[TheSpeckledRoo]

I would write that laying hens don't crow like the rooster so the noise would be kept at a minimum. Also, dogs always bark so you will in fact be quieter. Two chickens smell better than having a dog, who can leave a HUGE stool sample in the yard compaired to a chicken. No one ever writes complains about a chicken biting someone, so having chickens is safer even. And for the backyard, you can create a coop that looks as good, or even better then the house you live in. Look at the coop section on this forum. Some people build MANSIONS for their girls.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I would write that laying hens don't crow like the rooster so the noise would be kept at a minimum. Also, dogs always bark so you will in fact be quieter. Two chickens smell better than having a dog, who can leave a HUGE stool sample in the yard compaired to a chicken. No one ever writes complains about a chicken biting someone, so having chickens is safer even. And for the backyard, you can create a coop that looks as good, or even better then the house you live in. Look at the coop section on this forum. Some people build MANSIONS for their girls.

While hens do not USUALLY crow, they do make eggsong that can be quite loud! And dogs do not ALWAYS bark or bark loudly. The size of a dog and what you feed it make a difference in amount and size of stool. I do not think these are good things to discuss or include unless specifically asked.

What a homeowner is going to be concerned about is his/her liability for allowing hens, and damage to his/her property. Providing a copy of the ordinance allowing the hens is one good step in covering liability. Providing a plan for how you will prevent damage to the yard, and/or restore it should any damage occur should alleviate concerns about damage. Information on where you intend to house the hen, photos or drawings on the planned coop, tractor, pen, run etc. Details such as how often you intend to care for the coop cleaning (deep litter, daily or weekly exchange of bedding, etc.) could alleviate or raise concerns, so links to appropriate websites such as the county extension office, state vet, university poultry science department or other impartial resources on caring for backyard chickens would be helpful in showing that you are knowledgeable and following recommended guidelines.

 

[aoxa]

I don't think dogs poop their body weight each month either. Just something else to add to Sonoran's post.

Chickens create between 7-8 pounds of waste a month EACH. You need to know what you are going to do with that waste.

ETA: Using layers for the waste amount.

 

[fargosmom]

Nina - try to look at it from the perspective of the property owner. What is the upside, what is the downside of letting a tenant keep chickens, even if it is "legal"? You need to sell it to him, but also be honest with yourself and him. The mention of chicken poop is a good example. People who don't want chickens in their neighborhoods often fear vermin, unsanitary conditions, noise and nuisance. So you need to have answers for how you will be proactive about those issues. If you garden, mention that you will incorporate the chicken poo into the homeowner's landscaping, and in effect you will improve his property by maintaining and improving the landscaping (if that is indeed going to happen). You may want to mention the steps you will take to ensure that your hens will not be a nuisance to "his" neighbors, who are otherwise likely to complain to HIM about your backyard hobby. Look at it as though you own the house and are going to rent it to someone else - how do you protect your investment and make sure that the money from rent isn't outweighed by aggravation from a tenant who turns out to be a PITA?

As an example, when I rented a house, I asked the owner for permission to garden, citing my experience and green thumb. When I moved out, I KNOW he got more money for his house when he sold it, due to the improvements I'd made in the yard. Many others in the neighborhood had complimented me on all the work I'd done (and I'd paid for all the new plants myself, since I did it more for my own enjoyment than anything else). He got the benefit of nice landscaping, on MY dime, so it was a win-win for him.

Hope this helps . . .

 

[Ninaz89]

Hey guys,

Thanks for all your help! Apparently my letter worked, because I got the permission. Now I've got two awesome pullets!