keeping chickens

[Tess]

Hello. I hope somebody can help with this problem. I believe my next door neighbour is planning to keep chickens/hens in his back garden. He is in the process of building a shed/coop and has cleared most of the garden. I do not want this to happen as I believe it will be both noisy and smelly and will devalue my property.
Does he need permission to do this? Can I prevent this from happening?
We live in a village of about 1500 people, but the houses along our road are quite close together. It will certainly impact on our quality of life.
Can anybody help?

[Curlyben]

Re: keeping chickens

Hens on their own are actually quite quiet, it's the roosters that make all the noise.
As for smell, if kept correctly there isn't any, even in hot weather.

As for permission, there is none needed for a small holding of this type, unless the land has a covenant placed on it.

If you work with your neighbour on this it will alleviate any possible unpleasantness in the future and hopefully secure a ready supply of fresh eggs to boot..

[charitynjw]

Re: keeping chickens

Hens on their own are actually quite quiet, it's the roosters that make all the noise.
As for smell, if kept correctly there isn't any, even in hit weather.

As for permission, there is none needed for a small holding of this type, unless the land has a covenant placed on it.

If you work with your neighbour on this it will elevate any possible unpleasantness in the future and hopefully secure a ready supply of fresh eggs to boot.

Could be messy pmsl!

[seduraed]

Re: keeping chickens

if he build the hen houses correctlywith a second above the perch ,then the cock wont be able to lift his head to crow until he is let out in the morning. Workwith your neighbour, really fresh real free range eggs are delicious.

[Shepherdess]

Re: keeping chickens

With respect, keeping livestock is a natural part of rural life and one of the reasons people choose to live in the country.
It's down to degree, aesthetics and good husbandry, and if your neighbour keeps them clean and tidy and within reasonable numbers you shouldn't have a problem.
If he's going to keep them for eggs, he won't need a cockerel. Hens aren't particularly noisy.
Their bedding makes great compost.
I think you need to make friends with your neighbour, give him your vegetable peelings etc and you'll be rewarded with gorgeous eggs.
I keep ducks in a village garden, my neighbour loves them, she gets free eggs every week and I get a bottle of white wine once a month in return.
Live and let live
Shepherdess x

[Garlok]

Re: keeping chickens

We do have a neighbour that already keeps hens and has a cockerel, yet we live in an area which is quite urban. There is no smell, Charlie the cockerel has a go at first light but really it is no problem however only about the same as the seagulls. In many ways adds to the atmosphere of the way of life.

regards
Garlok

[whatnest]

Re: keeping chickens

Maybe get yourself a fox. Chickens and foxes dont get on well !!!!

[Angry Cat]

Re: keeping chickens

I live in a rural area in which many people keep hens, including my neighbour;
my neighbours hens live in a chicken palace which is on a strip of land adjacent to my property.

The hens, make very little noise and they do not smell.

Many, many families both in town or country are rescuing battery hens, who go on to lead a happy life:

http://littlehenrescue.co.uk/jumpers.aspx

[Ihaterbs]

Re: keeping chickens

We have neighbors that have just started with chickens on the back - little noise, no smell, no problem.

[Angry Cat]

Re: keeping chickens

There is a nice litte article in the the sunday times magazine #24/04/2011;
page 48:
EGGS AND THE CITY

[Crispybacon]

Re: keeping chickens

We also have kept chickens in our previous house.

Lets debunk some of your beliefs:

1) The noise - you only need hens for egg laying. They make a little noise when they have laid an egg but its no louder than someone with a dog that barks at the postman. Other than some very mild clucking which you are not going to hear they are quiet the rest of the day.

2) The smell - if there is a smell then your neighbours husbandry is not correct. There should be no smell if they are kept correctly and their housing kept clean. Chicken manure also makes good fertilizer!

3) Affecting the value of your house - Don't be ridiculous!! If your neighbour was setting up a barn with then intention of battery farming then that may be the case, but keeping a few chickens in his garden?! A lot of people would actually be attracted to the fact that your house would offer a rural way of life if you can keep poultry!

This is most certainly NOT going to affect your 'quality of life' unless you develop a mindset or issue with your neighbour and let it!!

Instead of looking to be confrontational why just not go round and discuss your concerns with him and ask him what his intentions are?

Perhaps you should also go and speak to a few people who actually keep chickens to see what it is really like and put your mind at rest?

Crispy

[Curlyben]

Re: keeping chickens

Mmmmmmmmmm
Crispy Bacon and Eggs, now there's a thought....

[Crispybacon]

Re: keeping chickens

Mmmmmmmmmm
Crispy Bacon and Eggs, now there's a thought....

Gotta be scrambled eggs!

[charitynjw]

Re: keeping chickens

We keep chickens - no noise, no mess (well, not much!), no problems, & they are hilarious (daft as brushes lol)

[Angry Cat]

Re: keeping chickens

Mmmmmmmmmm
Crispy Bacon and Eggs, now there's a thought....

Poached, a la: Eggs Benedict!

Hens are wonderful and also a wonderful experience for children.

Most people kept Hens in the 60's and 70's, so why not now?

We are all fed up with the horrible taste of battery farmed eggs, let alone the digraceful manner in which battery hens are kept.

Save the hens, I say!