Neighbours started keeping Chickens

pimento

maggie111 wrote: »

They certainly didn't smell but they did squawk when laying an egg!

So would I, probably..

owls

the problem with keeping chickens,is they incourage rats.
a neighbour of mine started to keep them, and with feeding them throwing bread out and feeding corn in there shed, the rats started to apear,as its easy food for them
in the end they got rid of them because of this.

Hintza

We have a long running dispute with our neighbours and we got chickens last year. I got the two cockerels as a freebie, they are superb in stereo at dawn. Thinking peafowl might just raise the decibel level a tad more...hmmmm.

(By the way we are in the country and a few acres is still farmed )

redpete

owls wrote: »

the problem with keeping chickens,is they incourage rats if they are not looked after properly.

my addition

a neighbour of mine started to keep them, and with feeding them throwing bread out and feeding corn in there shed, the rats started to apear,as its easy food for them.

There's an example. Feed them using a closed container which you bring in each night, don't leave scraps out overnight and rats won't get to the food.

Gloomendoom

A mate of mine fell for the current trend of keeping hens. However, it didn't last long. Dealing with mucking out, parasites, a rat invasion etc. soon took the shine off the fresh eggs. The hens have gone now.

We considered keeping hens but it doesn't really fit into our lifestyle and the economics don't work out. It might make a good hobby but, all things considered, it's a lot cheaper to get fresh eggs from neighbours that do.

pramsay13

Here's my tuppence worth although most has been said before:
my wife and i keep 2 (was 3 but one is in our stomachs) hens in our garden with neighbours on either side.
The noise is not a big problem, anyone talking nearby would be louder.
The smell is not a problem as they are cleaned out regularly, dogs are smellier.
I certainly wouldn't get hens to save money on egg buying, but as a hobby and to encourage our sons to get into the garden, take care of animals, eat more healthily etc they are great.
Only problem I see is them going right under your window which sounds a bit rude, but I'm sure if you pointed it out to them they should be able to sort it.
We regularly hand in excess eggs to our neighbours so it's not all bad!

Mankysteve

owls wrote: »

the problem with keeping chickens,is they incourage rats.
a neighbour of mine started to keep them, and with feeding them throwing bread out and feeding corn in there shed, the rats started to apear,as its easy food for them
in the end they got rid of them because of this.

That's just poor Chicken care. As others have said enclosed feeds, and proper cleaning will prevent rats.

JOHNNY_LOVES_JAZZ

owls wrote: »

the problem with keeping chickens,is they incourage rats.

Ive got no animals,no children don't leave food anywhere but have had several nests of rats lodging in my shed and outbuildings.
No matter how particular I am they still come,even Rentokil have said they go where they fancy no matter how careful you are.
You don't need to do or have anything to get rats believe me :rotfl:.

itsrachelhere

my neighbours have chickens. they are fab! They dont make too much noise at all, definitely don't bother us, and definitely dont smell.

lindos90

How old is your/their property?

Our is quite new (10 years) and when we bought it we were given documentation about 'restrictive covernances' and one of those was not being allowed to keep chickens! (As well as not putting a caravan on the drive, parking any works vehicle on the drive, or cutting down any bushes or trees in the front or back garden planted by the developer!!!)

RC's are apparently difficult to persue though, as they are delt with by the property developer, towards the original owner of the property (who may or may not be the current owner of the house (or chickens).

Once the development is completed, the developer will have little or no interest in persuing RC anyway.

Have you spoken to your neighbours about your concerns?