Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: paullewis on November 03, 2008, 20:05

Title: By-Laws against Chickens??
Post by: paullewis on November 03, 2008, 20:05
Having just moved into a place where the garden is big enough for me to have a few chickens, I've been told there may be a by-law against keeping them.

Shurly they cant tell me what animals I'm allowed to keep now??  Has anyone else heard of this? How would I find out?  Should I just get the chooks in, and make sure the neighbours get the odd half dozen eggs to guarentee their silence?

any advice greatfully received
Title: By-Laws against Chickens??
Post by: Evansent on November 03, 2008, 20:21
It may  be worth checking your house deeds, as a friend of mine has a covenant in theirs that actually states they may not keep poultry of any kind.

I must admit I didn't actually check with the council in my area, but I did check with my neighbours if they had any problems, to which the resounding reply was, "Free range eggs, no problem".


C X
Title: By-Laws against Chickens??
Post by: compostqueen on November 03, 2008, 20:22
If you're a tenant it will say on your agreement

If you own it I'd go ahead and get a few and placate the neighbours with eggs.  ONLY if the garden is big enough though
Title: permission
Post by: desandchez on November 03, 2008, 20:23
we keep our girls on the allotment and we had to get permission from the council :wink:
Title: By-Laws against Chickens??
Post by: SnooziSuzi on November 03, 2008, 20:24
I think it's been mentioned on here several times that folks living in Milton Keynes can't have any kind of poultry in their back gardens as it was written into everyone's deeds when the town was built back in the 80's (70's?) so it's entirely possible that you may have a local restriction.

Check with your local planning office, they would know for certain what you can and can't keep on your private property.
Title: By-Laws against Chickens??
Post by: compostqueen on November 03, 2008, 20:29
I didn't check cos there's always some stick in the mud that says "you can't"  8)  

Well I can and do  :D
Title: By-Laws against Chickens??
Post by: paullewis on November 03, 2008, 20:40
Quote from: "compostqueen"
I didn't check cos there's always some stick in the mud that says "you can't"  8)  

Well I can and do  :D


Thats kind of my thinking too really, think i might just have to get on with it!!!

If i'm not allowed, guess I'll become a gurilla poultry farmer!!!

Would keep them on the lottie, but STILL on the waitng list, although did take a differant route into town the other day, and walked past some i didn't even know where there, and there looked like a few empty too!!  Unfortunatly I was in a rush so couldn't nip in, (I don't know why, but whenever i nip in to some allotments I'm there at least half an hour!!) but will def be heading back down there soon I think!
Title: By-Laws against Chickens??
Post by: compostqueen on November 03, 2008, 20:42
:wink:
Title: By-Laws against Chickens??
Post by: jimroden on November 03, 2008, 20:47
I have had a letter off nottingham city council to say that we can have the chook's at our house. Funny enough the lady who i spoke to has chickens too.

Jim
Title: By-Laws against Chickens??
Post by: chickenlady on November 03, 2008, 20:52
Hi their paullewis! up untill our current house we always had new houses and the deeds always said that no animals should be kept on the property apart from domestic pets! (well arent our girlies pets????) well aparently this can only cause a problem if someone was to complain about them. then they would win if it went any further. we know people living in crowland that have chooks in a new house and they dont seem to worry. luckily our current house says nothing about livestock so i could have a cow too if i wanted :lol:
Title: By-Laws against Chickens??
Post by: paullewis on November 03, 2008, 21:00
Quote from: "chickenlady"
the deeds always said that no animals should be kept on the property apart from domestic pets!


What classifies as domestic? If I house train them does that count??? I can't really get in my head how it would be any differant to having a rabbit hutch and run in my garden?  

Might make an annonomous (excuse my spelling) to the council and see what they say!!
Title: By-Laws against Chickens??
Post by: compostqueen on November 03, 2008, 21:04
I wouldn't, the earth could land on your head 8)
Title: By-Laws against Chickens??
Post by: chickenlady on November 03, 2008, 21:06
Any animal that is domesticated i suppose ie, tamed? anyway i wouldnt worry, i didnt even tell the neighbours, till we had had them for 3 months! turns out the one i was worried about loves chooks and i was worrying for nothing! gave him his first half dozen eggies today!
Title: By-Laws against Chickens??
Post by: Spadefighter on November 03, 2008, 21:12
I rang our council to check and they were helpful and encouraging. The mantra they kept repeating was 'As Long As It Does Not Cause Nuisance'. Definitely no cockerels either. Give them a ring and ask.
Title: By-Laws against Chickens??
Post by: poultrygeist on November 03, 2008, 21:43
Chickens are officially livestock, not pets, but I think it's a bit like havign to keep your garden tidy and no hedge, etc.
As said, make sure your neighbours are ok before you start or you'll have no defence.
And only keep 3 to start with. If you do it with the right set up, you'll have no smell to worry about and it won't look unsightly. And, as said, you'll have a few spare eggs to give away  :D

Rob 8)
Title: By-Laws against Chickens??
Post by: chooknewbie on November 03, 2008, 22:11
it states on my deeds the same....domestic animals only ie dogs cats birds.....well..chickens is birds aint they!??? however i did e-mail my council and check, and so long as i am not selling the eggs....(they dont lay any yet they babies)..and i dont keep cockrels....(well....only for a little while...honest....) then i am ok to have the chooks.... they also wanted to know what/how/where i would be housing them.... so i told them that i would be converting a pre-existing dog kennel and so was told thats fine go ahead.
Title: By-Laws against Chickens??
Post by: matilda duck on November 03, 2008, 22:25
What classifies as domestic? If I house train them does that count??? Now this I would really like to see :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  I'm due for a good laugh :lol:  :lol:  :lol:
Title: By-Laws against Chickens??
Post by: paullewis on November 04, 2008, 20:45
Quote from: "matilda duck"
Now this I would really like to see :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  I'm due for a good laugh :lol:  :lol:  :lol:


Oh dear, have I just built my self up for the biggest challenge ever faced :oops:  :oops:

I'll let you know how it goes :tongue2:
Title: By-Laws against Chickens??
Post by: smiler43 on November 04, 2008, 21:11
Hi paullewis.  I checked with my council and they weren't interested just said check your deeds.  Checked those and there is a covenant thing in it stating no poultry to be kept on the land (although this was written a very long time ago, that old we couldn't understand some of it!).  
We are leasehold so I wrote to the land owner to ask her permission, she came right back and said of course not a problem, enjoy :o)  We also told the neighbours next doors and they were only concerned if we were having a cockerel, which we weren't.  One neighbour also has eggs from me :o)  I have 3 lovely girls.

I'd say just check and cover every angle just to be sure, oh and obviously keep them clean so no one can complain.
Title: By-Laws against Chickens??
Post by: VM on November 09, 2008, 19:34
I think it's probably pretty common to have by-laws saying you can't keep a cockerel in towns and cities. Here in Manchester you can't keep a cockerel at all, either on allotments or in gardens. Neighbours of ours used to - but if anyone complains you  have to get rid of it. The general position with chickens, apart from cockerels, is that you can keep them on allotments, but individual sites have their own rules about it as well.

Be careful about food and anything which might attract rats. It would be reasonable for neighbours or the council to be unhappy if there were an increase in rats because of chicken food etc.