[crowndale]

I have been thinking about getting some chickens for a couple of years but not got around to it for various reasons but after being offered two gorgeous 10 weekers last week (wasn't able to take them sadly, no house or pen set up yet) i have caught the bug again and have been investigating coops, runs, how to care properly for them etc.  i know i want a raised off the ground house becoz i'm a bit arthritic and want a walk in pen for the same reason, and a largish pen at around 9x9 foot (mostly to keep them safe from my children!!).  but after being all enthusiastic about it, someone said today that you have to keep chickens at least 14 feet from any residrntial property.  is this the case?  if so it would affect my ability to keep them.  i have two potential spaces, one directly by the side of my house and one behind the shed, which is about 10 foot from the neighbours house (side wall) and directly against the fence between us.  the best spot would be besides my house as its easy to get to in all weathers and furthest from any neighbour.

anyway, just wondering if this advice is accurate or not?

thanks

[nerdle]

Hello and welcome.

Not heard of that rule - I have only one hen- she free ranges in my fox proof garden and lives in the shed right next to the kitchen door.

[themagicaltoad1]

Hi, I've never heard of that one before! If that was the case I think there would be a lot of people who would have to give up their chickens for the same reason. You are better off keeping them as far from your neighbours as possible simply to avoid conflict over the noise, they can get quite loud when they've laid an egg and want to announce it to the world. On the other hand you might find your neighbours are like mine, they love the sound of the hens and even the cockerel. Have you spoken to your neighbours about the possibility of having some yet?

[themagicaltoad1]

awww Nerdle, isn't she lonely?

[nerdle]

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=86283.msg959758#msg959758

I'm at home all day and she always seems to be in my kitchen.... she's fine.

[crowndale]

thanks for that.  am confident that the wife next door would be horrified by the thought of chickens in the garden where ever i put them!!  hubby next door would be fine.  he's a frustrated vege grower who now has two 3x6 vege beds after literally years of trying to get wifey to agree and would love pets of any sort!  and their garden is like the ideal home exhibition without so much as a blade of grass out of place.  having had a really good look last night i think it might actually be over 14 feet from the house anyway having measured 14 foot in my garden to compare the spaces.  i need to place a pen nearer the neighbours til the autumn becoz i had spuds growing in the space next to the house which is a better site in terms of me having to go out in the middle of winter to feed/clean them!!
thanks for the help.

[nerdle]

Sure you aren't near me - they sound just like my neighbours!