are chickens classed as pets?

pbfhpunk

We're soon to be moving into rented house due to relocation and we asked the estate agent to show us properties where we could keep our chickens, the guy showing us around also knew about the chickens. When we came to fill in the form it asked about pets we didn't fill that in as people consider cats and dogs and inside animals pets, so didn't think the chickens counted.

Any landlords would you classify chickens as pets? in that case should we have said we've got a fishtank? (although no fish yet!)

Thanks

confused31_2

You can freeze chickens just stick them in the freezer;)

p00hsticks

I wouldn't count them as pets, but I'd certainly have made a point of identifying that you were bringing them - - if there wasn't a relevant question on the questionaire I would have added a note somewhere on the form or attached a sheet of paper with the information in.

m_13

Interesting question.

We used to live next to a neighbour with chickens. I found their clucking very soothing. However, the house was a HA property and they changed their rules and tenants were no longer allowed to keep chickens due to biosecurity risks. I don't think it's any coincidence that it was around the time the document 'Hobby and Fancy Poultry Sector' was published on the DEFRA website with new guidance on keeping chickens in back yards and gardens. In particular section 7.4 says that wild birds should not be able to get to chicken feed but our neighbour's chickens were always chasing hungry starlings away from their food.

Having worked on some pandemic flu planning exercises I know that many see back yard and garden chickens as high risk as they are more likely to mix with wild birds. My LA (Warwickshire) has launched a voluntary register for all keepers of under 50 birds (flocks over 50 have to be registered with Defra) and I wouldn't be surprised to see this become mandatory in the future. As they say:

Should there ever be an outbreak of avian influenza (bird flu) in the county of Warwickshire, it will be important for the Trading Standards Service's Animal Health team to know the location and numbers of a range of birds.

Horrible to think about I know but having spent months doing planning I do believe that with pandemic flu it's a matter of 'when' not 'if' :eek: .

I think your prospective landlord needs to know about your chickens so they can make a decision.

maninthestreet

The term 'No pets' may mean any live animal you intend to keep at the house. A fishtank is NOT a pet - it's an inanimate object.

JayZed

I would have declared them on the form as pets, noting that they would be kept outside (presumably you are keeping them outside!). You certainly need to notify the landlord that you intend to keep them.

If I were the landlord, I would want some reassurance that you would keep the garden clean and tidy, as chickens (if you let them roam in your garden) do tend to crap all over the place and eat the plants. I would also absolutely forbid you to keep a !!!!, because they make one hell of a noise and drive the neighbours mad.

Then again, I'm a chicken-keeper and am generally in favour of people keeping chickens. I suspect that a lot of landlords will simply say no.

JayZed

Obviously the word in the second paragraph above that's been bleeped out is !!!!, as in male chicken, rooster, cockerel.

epsilondraconis

If I was the landlord, I would want to know if any animals are being kept. Just because the chicken isn't a 'pet' in its pure sense, the landlord still has a right to know.

If you kept pigs, you could argue the same point that they are not pets, but I'm sure the landlord doesn't want the garden turned into a farm yard.

It reminds me of watching the 'good life'. A great program to watch; however I'm just glad I didn't live next door to Tom and Barbara.

tbs624

Just discuss it with the LL :

• the deeds to some properties contain a covenant stating that chickens etc may not be kept
• most people who keep chickens will be aware that rats and mice tend to be attracted to the chicken feed etc
• the smell of chicken ..erm..manure in the height of summer is pretty grim for neighbours, unless it's dealt with on a regular basis
• although chickens are great for slug reduction, they do have a downside if free-ranging in the garden, as JayZed says.

The LL may want an increased tenancy deposit from you or s/he may have no concerns at all, but s/he does have a right to know.

mlz1413

I would write to the LA and say that you've realized the chickens aren't mentioned and do they wish you to update the AST to reflect this.

That way if the LA don't come back to you and at the end of the term there is a dispute you will have a copy of the letter sent.

Are the chickens going to cause any damage to the garden and is the gardens condition noted on your inventory? I can forsee an issue with return of the deposit if LA has not informed LL and LL is a proud gardener and the lawn and flower beds have large areas scratched out of them.

pbfhpunk

Tanks for all your feedback,

With regards to the avian flu, the chicken run is covered so the birds can't get to the food, I currently live in Warwickshire so would be good to know about the register as not heard of it before.

Where we currently are the chickens don't make a mess at all we poo pick and give the majority of that to the current LL for their compost heap. Never had a problem with them eating plants either, all the rabbits and squirrels do that!

There's no way I'd have a cockeral as the noise would do my head in!! Love my lie ins, the garden is v long and away from any other houses, we're planning on keeping them penned in to a small area for a while, which will be hard as they have free roam of the current place.

Thanks for your comments all appreciated.

H