[Lilac]

Hi

I brought 2 chickens home about 4 months ago now...Me and my girls are getting on great.

Now I read loads and loads of stuff about the girls before they came, but someone just told me that I am not allowed to keep chickens in a residential back garden.  I am pretty sure I am. I am certain that the rule is that you are allowed to keep hens in your backyard in a residential area as long as the house deeds don't say anything to the contrary

Please can someone just clarify for me what the deal is.  I would hate to part with my girls now..We are very fond of each other.

Thanks very much

[muntjac]

the rules are if its a private house you can keep birds or pets .if the deeds have a stipulation of no chickens then you cant .if you own the house you can do what the hell you like with it subject to planning laws and chicken coops dont come under planning laws as they dont count as fixed buildings ...if you rent then you need to clear it with the landlord .some councils try throwing thier wieght around with this .. tell em to take ya to court n then say the chickens are pets and come under the same rules and laws as aviary birds , n then tell them ........ * off and whoever told you different if they want to spend money taking ya to court let them .... they have to prove that the birds are not pets  

[Lilac]

Hi Muntjac

Thanks for clarifying that for me. Just as I thought really. We own our house so thankfully there is no landlord to please either. I think this woman was just trying to be clever..It is quite amusing really as I have my own business (a pet shop) and she had come in to ask for a job!!! And for whatever reason we realised that we live near each other, and she asked if I was the one who owns chickens, and that did I know I can't keep them in a residential area...suffice to say, she won't be getting a job :roll:

[muntjac]

she needs putting right as well tho .id check with the council rules they have in power on the qt the library may be able to help ,or cab .there is a town think its milton keynes the council rule the dam place i reckon it would only take a test case  n they would come unstuck

[Lilac]

Yes, thanks, I will double check on that one. Cheers

[muntjac]

what town ya in lilac?

[lucyeff]

Hi Lilac!

I hope that you manage to put your mind at rest with about this. One of our neighbours is a bit of a loose cannon (crackers, in fact) and we didn't want to tell him we were getting chickens, so I contacted the local council by email and they said no problem, apart from if you're wanting a cockerel with the noise, etc, to check with the neighbours then. They sent me an attachment with info on hygiene, etc, and that was it.

Sounds like this lady was trying to be smart, as you say. Not the best way to win friends and influence people!  :roll:

Welcome to the forum btw, I'm a newbie but get on here a bit at the mo as baby will only sleep on my arm, and I get backache on the settee   As you will probably see from my ramblings  :oops:

Lucy

[Fat Hen]

I work on the principle that keeping chickens is different from having a few chickens as pets.  I'm sure I read somewhere (though it might be an alcohol derived delusion) that chicken keeping means keeping 50 or more birds.

I have five, they all have names, my daughters love em, and they come in house.  So I reckon they're pets just as much as a dog or a rabbit.

That's my way of thinking anyway.

[muntjac]

I work on the principle that keeping chickens is different from having a few chickens as pets.  I'm sure I read somewhere (though it might be an alcohol derived delusion) that chicken keeping means keeping 50 or more birds.

I have five, they all have names, my daughters love em, and they come in house.  So I reckon they're pets just as much as a dog or a rabbit.

That's my way of thinking anyway.

 this applies to defra registration not the keeping of any number of birds    

[SnooziSuzi]

Hi Lilac,  welcome to the forum  

One question for chook keepers in general;  do they not poop all round the house?  Mine like to go into my shed on the lottie and just go where they please!  Lots of hankies on standby and poop in the composter!

[muntjac]

erm .. bit of chicken wire 3 ft tall ina wooden frame with a pair drop hinges werks on keeping em out ,when ya finished on the lotty just pull the gate up and it pops off n u can shove it in the shed  

[SnooziSuzi]

it's not that I mind; it's quite sweet to see them investigating the people places!     I just wondered if they pooped in peoples houses and folks just clean up after them or if they could be trained to go outside!  :?  

[muntjac]

it's not that I mind; it's quite sweet to see them investigating the people places!     I just wondered if they pooped in peoples houses and folks just clean up after them or if they could be trained to go outside!  :?  

 :roll:  :roll:  :roll:  :roll:  :roll:  

[Lilac]

Hi again everyone, and thanks for your help. I do feel a little more assured now from your posts..and muntjacs help (thanks for that ) I was pretty sure I knew the form for keeping chickens before the girls arrived,but this lady just threw me with her statement.

Anyway my girls are Annie, who is a Black Rock, and Addie who is a Columbine.  I love them to bits and they are definately pets, that is why I got them..I don't care if they never lay eggs (though it would be nice) as they are just the best pets ever.  They sit on my knee and let me stroke them and Annie likes to jump on my shoulder.

SnooziSuzi my girls will wander into my kitchen when I have the back door open and I am there washing up or cooking or whatever..Occasionally, yes, they poop in the kitchen. Luckily it is wooden flooring and I just clean up after them.  I don't mind them coming into the house, but my hubby always shoos them out again :roll:

[GrannieAnnie]

We went to see one of the ladies who had some of my old ex battery girls.  When we walked in she shoved this adorable jack russell puppy at me, moaning that it keeps pooing everywhere, and she only got it for her daughter, but when we were drinking our coffee, she was happily letting all the chickens in to roam around and didn't complain once about their poo!!!! lol