keeping chickens - help and advice (merged)

terryw

weegie wrote: »

Wonder if anyone can help .....

I'm looking into getting 2-3 chickens - small coop and run - in our back garden. It's fenced in etc so ideal space. The only problem my title deeds say that we are prohibited from keeping poultry, ducks, pigeons, rabbits, bees or other livestock.


Does anyone know what the worst is that could happen if I ignore this and go ahead? I see a couple of our other neighbours have rabbits... I don't think I would have any objections from my neighbours.

Would appreciate any advice.....

Thanks guys

Chances are everything would be ok. As
1. The person or firm who made this restrictive covenant is probably long since deceased, or could not care less

and

2. Anyone else who does not like the idea would have to pay to stop you keeping the birds by taking legal action.

On the other hand, if anyone does kick up........re-think the whole idea and get rid of the birds as the last thing you want is an argument with neighbours over such matters.
Consider also if council might take a dim view.

terryw

weegie_2

pboae

built round about 1973 I think.....

weegie_2

thanks terry. Someone did mention that if it had been a period of time since the deeds had been drawn up that they might not really care.

My neighbours are a pretty good bunch. can't see any of them having a problem with it since it would only be a couple of birds (I'd check with them anyway and give them free eggs now and again if it all worked out!)

Gonna phone the council tomorrow and see what they say. Can't see anything on their website.

terryw

weegie wrote: »

thanks terry. Someone did mention that if it had been a period of time since the deeds had been drawn up that they might not really care.

My neighbours are a pretty good bunch. can't see any of them having a problem with it since it would only be a couple of birds (I'd check with them anyway and give them free eggs now and again if it all worked out!)

Gonna phone the council tomorrow and see what they say. Can't see anything on their website.

Yeah, it is very common when a developer builds a new estate or even a number of houses to put in all sorts of such covenants ( not to run a pub or a brothel or put caravans on the drive or to put washing on the line on Sundays etc etc etc) but bluntly once the last dwelling is sold they could not care less. Particularly if they have to spend money enforcing such a covenant.

terryw

weegie_2

yep, houses here in my very small scheme have been sold and resold a number of times. They were built by Wimpey so I don't think they would be too bothered by a couple of chickens....:-)

lka200

Today i received my ex battery hens which were saved from going to slaughter tomorrow. Altogether 1400 hens have been rescued and given the chance to breathe air and live out the rest of their days happily.
The coordinator of this rescue was only given 4 days notice by the farmer and has worked miracles (along with lots of other people offering transport, collection points and b&b for the hens)
The hens have gone to new homes all over the country with 200 going to scotland at the weekend.
It is absolutely marvellous to see them behaving like normal hens. They have been in battery cages from the age of 20 weeks old and are now 72 weeks old. All they have ever known is a cage.. their little feet have only ever been standing on wire mesh they have never had the chance to breathe fresh air and have never seen daylight, have never been able to perch or dust bathe until now.
Mine are surprisingly well feathered although there are some with totally naked necks and some red botties.
Please think before you buy eggs from caged birds as the system is absolutely barbaric
Thanks for listening
x

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MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I think it's wonderful that these poor birds can be helped.
I would love to have some hens myself,but I only have a yard garden and I don't think this would be suitable for them.
I do know the joys of having hens as we had a run with over 50 hens when I was growing up and they realy are lovely creatures,each with a unique personality.Good luck with yours.....

Froglet

Well done you.My mum had ex battery hens for years,the difference between the free range she started with,and them was pitiful,but it was a joy to see them recover.It was they who started me off being a vegetarian when i wondered why they were so different.The more i found out the more outraged i became and have now been veggie for 23 years.

I think the tide is turning at last,as people become more aware due to people like Jamie Oliver and Hugh Whittingstall .In a few years(though why it takes so long i fail to understand) production of eggs from battery hens will be banned in Europe.

lka200

Thats right people are so much more aware now days mainly thanks to hugh and jamie.
Battery farmers from i think its 2012 have to clear out all their cages and install the 'enriched cage' which will have more room per bird (not much though) a perch for roosting and a dust bath...all natural requirements for any hen. These rules apply to europe but unfortunately not in asia and other foreign places.
This is going to cost farmers loads of money to achieve and many have already declared that they will give up totally so that is good news.
Also the pressure on supermarkets to go free range is massive. M&S are totally free range in all their products...I think that waitrose co-op and sainsburys are heading that way but tescos the biggest is resisting.
Tesco has been given 'A rotten Egg award' after a petition of thousands of names urging them to only sell free range eggs.
The pressure is absolutely massive at the moment towards tescos with many people boycotting the stores and refusing to buy there.
The public really can make a difference...cadburys cream eggs are now contain free range eggs as opposed to battery due to pressure and petitions from the public.
I feel that if ALL the supermarkets were to insist on free range and eradicate battery eggs then the public would have no choice but to buy free range and if that happens the eggs would be more affordable than they are now.
This would put the battery farmers out of business and that would be the end.
I really do feel that over the next few years this will actually happen well i really hope it does.
PS ben and jaerrys ice cream in free range too.:T
Lucy x

lka200

Heres a pic of a couple of my new girls enjoying life:j