Raise Backyard Chickens Without Ruffling Neighbors' Feathers
Before you build a coop in the backyard, follow these strategies to help keep your neighbors from squawking
A report in the New York Times tells the story of a Brooklyn community that has turned neighbor against neighbor — all because of the Warren-St. Mark's community garden's decision to temporarily house eight hens. The chicken war between the urban farmers and longtime residents of the neighborhood brings up an issue: How can you keep the peace while raising backyard chickens?
Photographer and chicken keeper Amy Renea says it starts with neighborly acts: advanced notice to neighbors and strategic coop placement go a long way in keeping the peace. She houses her chickens in a far corner lot on her property where neighbors can't see, smell or hear the chickens when they are cooped up. The chickens roam free when they're released from the coop, and although they usually stick close to her property, the cluckers occasionally wander into a neighbor's lot. "We find the best way to combat any issues is with a giant basket of eggs every once in a while," Renea says.
Here are more strategies for keeping things neighborly.
Photographer and chicken keeper Amy Renea says it starts with neighborly acts: advanced notice to neighbors and strategic coop placement go a long way in keeping the peace. She houses her chickens in a far corner lot on her property where neighbors can't see, smell or hear the chickens when they are cooped up. The chickens roam free when they're released from the coop, and although they usually stick close to her property, the cluckers occasionally wander into a neighbor's lot. "We find the best way to combat any issues is with a giant basket of eggs every once in a while," Renea says.
Here are more strategies for keeping things neighborly.
Check city ordinances. Kathy Siegel, who used to have a coop in Los Angeles, underscores the importance of adhering to city ordinances. "You don't want to be in the wrong when your pets' lives are at stake. In L.A., they have ordinances that state no roosters can be kept, that limit the hens to five only and dictate clear distance minimums between the coop and your neighbor's house," says Siegel.
Most chicken keepers will tell you that checking city ordinances can prove difficult when chickens are involved, because rules concerning chickens may fall under pet, noise or small livestock ordinances. "The Backyard Chickens website has a good selection of city ordinances regarding domesticated fowl. I would check there," says Weerts.
Most chicken keepers will tell you that checking city ordinances can prove difficult when chickens are involved, because rules concerning chickens may fall under pet, noise or small livestock ordinances. "The Backyard Chickens website has a good selection of city ordinances regarding domesticated fowl. I would check there," says Weerts.
Anticipate noise and odor issues. Although Divoll keeps her coop a secret from her neighbors, she suggests having only hens in the coop for noise reduction. And whether you keep chickens or hens, more means more noise and odor; limit a backyard coop to five to ensure less noise. "I'd also strictly adhere to an odor-free practice," she says. "It's very easy to do. People who don't pick up their dog's poop have stinkier yards than people who have chicken coops."
Strategize your coop's location and design. Screen chickens from street view and from the view of neighbors' dogs, which might become barking nuisances if they aren't used to seeing chickens.
"Our neighbor didn't want to see the coop, so we lowered our coop's roof for them," says Shannon Demma, who keeps chickens in Santa Cruz, California. "We keep the coop in a completely enclosed yard, so from the outside you don't even know it's there. After watching us with our chickens, our neighbors now have their own coops."
Some chicken keepers purposely build coops without windows and lock their chickens in every night. Haupt says that they're quieter in the dark, and that she doesn't let them out until after 8 a.m. to keep early-morning clucking from waking the neighbors.
"Our neighbor didn't want to see the coop, so we lowered our coop's roof for them," says Shannon Demma, who keeps chickens in Santa Cruz, California. "We keep the coop in a completely enclosed yard, so from the outside you don't even know it's there. After watching us with our chickens, our neighbors now have their own coops."
Some chicken keepers purposely build coops without windows and lock their chickens in every night. Haupt says that they're quieter in the dark, and that she doesn't let them out until after 8 a.m. to keep early-morning clucking from waking the neighbors.
Know how to manage rodents and predators. Keeping a clean coop minimizes problems, but sometimes leftover food on the ground still can invite mice — nothing that a cat can't handle. "In an urban setting, I would definitely suggest daily sweeping of any leftover or spilled food to avoid rodents," says Amy Renea.
A high-security coop can defend chickens against predators, like skunks and raccoons. But keeping the area inside and outside the coop clean should still be a top priority. The effort of maintaining a coop is worth it for these chicken keepers, who say that the cluckers have become part of the family. "My children play with them; they provide wonderful fresh eggs; they eat our scraps and make compost for our garden. We feel very blessed to have them," says Demma.
"I feel like owning a flock of chickens harkens back to days when most people had a vegetable patch, evenings were spent together on the porch and neighbors talked to one another over their fences," says Weerts. "Chicken ownership is a good reminder that we should return to this."
Tell us: Do you keep backyard chickens? Please show us your coop and share your experience in the Comments below.
More:
The Scoop on Chicken Coops
Chicken Coops That Rule the Roost
A high-security coop can defend chickens against predators, like skunks and raccoons. But keeping the area inside and outside the coop clean should still be a top priority. The effort of maintaining a coop is worth it for these chicken keepers, who say that the cluckers have become part of the family. "My children play with them; they provide wonderful fresh eggs; they eat our scraps and make compost for our garden. We feel very blessed to have them," says Demma.
"I feel like owning a flock of chickens harkens back to days when most people had a vegetable patch, evenings were spent together on the porch and neighbors talked to one another over their fences," says Weerts. "Chicken ownership is a good reminder that we should return to this."
Tell us: Do you keep backyard chickens? Please show us your coop and share your experience in the Comments below.
More:
The Scoop on Chicken Coops
Chicken Coops That Rule the Roost
Leslie Divoll did the exact opposite in her beachfront Florida community. She keeps her coop a secret because the neighbors complain at the drop of a hat, she says.
For Gwen Weerts, consulting neighbors on the left, right and directly behind is a must, but she admits that living in the "crunchy" town (her description) of Bellingham, Washington, ensures that more people are supportive of urban farming. "I can see how really urban areas with not much exposure to small-scale agriculture can have these community flare-ups because of misinformation," she says.