family home association. If you’re going to be a backyard chicken farmer, you need chickens AND a backyard!
Even if your community covenants will allow for the birds, there is most likely that infamous common blanket restriction that reads something like: No noxious, unlawful or offensive activity shall be carried on in any Unit or in the Common Elements, nor shall anything be done therein, either willfully or negligently, which may be or become an annoyance or nuisance to the other Unit Owners or Occupants or which shall in the judgment of the Board cause unreasonable noise or disturbance to others.
Do chickens make noise? They certainly can. There is a lot of information available about chicken behavior, but there seem to be differing opinions on the amount of noise produced by the birds. One thing that seems to be commonly thought true is that hens will definitely announce the laying of an egg. It would seem you can expect a celebratory and very audible announcement of this accomplishment. Are you and your neighbors prepared for that? Take into consideration that your chickens may or may not create a noise issue, and be prepared to take corrective action if there is a problem. Noise tolerance is very subjective, so if your current neighbors move, the new folks next door might not hear things the same way. Know the procedures for dealing with violation complaints in your
community so you’re prepared if and when complaints are made about your farming efforts.
Odors are one of the leading reasons for homeowners to invoke the “nuisance” clause of the governing documents. People who believe that dogs and cats create nuisance odors are very likely to think chickens will come with their own unpleasantly smelly existence. All animals are going to eliminate body waste, and prompt care and attention is always necessary to mitigate the effects of those biological functions. If you’re indulging your farming dreams, expect that people will constantly be sniffing for a whiff of a reason to make a complaint about your feathered friends. People who are accustomed to the country air and natural farm odors may be more tolerant than your urban neighbors who complain about the yearly application of landscaping fertilizer. Be prepared to offer and implement effective solutions for those alleged offensive odor complaints.
So, where do you plan to actually keep the birds? How many hens? Where will they live? If your association has a restriction on the number of pets, that rule may be applicable to your backyard egg farm as well. If you are limited to two “pets” per home, you just may be limited to two hens. As for the chicken abode, there are a world of options and styles available to purchase from surprising sources. Home goods e-store Wayfair alone offers over
20 | COMMON INTEREST® A Publication of CAI-Illinois Chapter
eighty different kinds of chicken coops or hutches, some of which are quite upscale with multi-levels. Did you read the fine print of your municipal code to know if you need an enclosed run for your backyard chickens? Some coops have that feature. Before you order that blue colonial chicken coop or the mini red barn hutch, did you review your association’s architectural guidelines? There may be a size limit for additional structures or storage sheds on your lot. Perhaps the addition of an exterior structure requires the prior approval of the association. If your doghouse has to match the exterior of your home, odds are good the chicken coop has to match too.
Before you order that blue colonial chicken coop or the mini red barn hutch, did you
review your association’s architectural guidelines
Finally, is your backyard farm safe and secure? Just because you live in or near a city, don’t forget there are still natural predators that may be attracted to your hen house. Peregrine falcons, hawks and turkey vultures are always cruising the skies searching for dinner. A backyard chicken coop or open chicken run may be an impossible-to-resist invitation. If one of the big birds swoops in to grab dinner, expect that there will be a lot of offensive activity in your backyard. Urban coyotes and foxes are thriving in unexpected ways and numbers around populous settlements. Penned chickens and their eggs may prove too much of a temptation for these natural predators in an unnatural environment. Be prepared for the
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unexpected loss of your pets, whether due to a fox in the hen house or the mandated removal by your community association for just cause.
In Orwell’s Animal Farm, the newly empowered animals quickly enact rules of their own. They adopt the Seven Commandments of Animalism, with the most important commandment being, “All animals are equal.” Clearly, all animals are not equal in the city, suburbs and typical community associations. Backyard chicken farming is a movement gaining in popularity, but is it right for you? You can learn much more about the pleasures and perils of this interesting endeavor at a number of websites. Two that offer a lot of detailed information are
www.backyardchickens.com and
www.chicagofarmandtable.com. Do the homework, lay the groundwork, evaluate your options and weigh the pros and cons. If you really want to be an urban chicken and egg farmer, it is possible. At the new urban Animal Farm, the hens rule!
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