[cherry]

Can anyone tell me if I need permission to keep chickens in the garden in an ark with a run?? if I do who do I need to contact?

Cherry   

[matilda duck]

Do you own the house??  Or rent??
If you own your own house then just do a quick check on the deeds to make sure there are no clauses in there to say you can't keep poultry.
If you rent then the chances are probably not

[cherry]

hooray 

we are home owners and no clauses about livestock  :happy:

[milothepeanut]

We rent and do (keep chooks that is). You never know your luck.

[milothepeanut]

Great . Enjoy them.

[treacleminer]

You certainly have my permission

However on a more serious note, do remember that some neighbours can get upset about the strangest of things - like cocks crowing at 4.00am!
And chickens when free-ranging in my experience seem to prefer the neighbours garden (fortunately my neighbours don't mind)

[matilda duck]

Yeh that's really good news!  You have my permission but only if you think about getting ducks ...........   well you can think 
don't forget any newbies have to have photos on here!!! (chickens that is)

[Celtic Eagle]

Check with the local council, the Animal Welfare Officer is the guy to speak to.  So long as you do not keep cockerals the neighbours have no grounds for complaint.

[cherry]

thanks everyone 
So glad that we have forum otherwise we would not be thinking about keeping chickens because there is so much to learn.

I'm getting quite excited now and have booked us on a chicken keeping course mid November. 

and of course - as soon as we actually get any girls we will let you all know all about them and post photos (if I can work out how to attach images   

[alibean]

As  other people have said, as long as there isn't a 'no poultry' clause on your deeds then you can get some hens with confidence.
However, being a bit paranoid I rang our local environmental health dept and they said that as long as you don't have a cockerel in a built up area, take reasonable precautions against vermin, and keep things clean and not smelly (so as not to upset the neighbours) then they don't have any problem with a few chooks either.
Personally, half a dozen eggs to the neighbours once in a while and all should run smoothly - good luck......

[sallylouise]

Hi there,
I actualy had a clause in my deeds saying I can't keep poultry however I went and spoke to a soliciter and he said if somebody had a problem with it they would have to take me to court and unless they had lots of money they wouldn't bother, my chickens aren't any nosier that the dogs in the neighbour hood, I wouldn't get a cockerel though as they are quite noisy.
hope this helps
Sally

[Flowerpower136]

Definately got my permission!

Just be a considerate neighbour.  I consulted my nearest ones before I got the girls, promised faithfully not to get a cockerl, and am generous with eggs.  So no probs, the girls have quite a fan club and get more visitors that I do.

To be honest, didn't bother checking with council, we're a rural area, and there are other chucks in the village.

Only thing that really worried me, was risk of attracting rats near to properties.  We've a long standing problems with rats in this village, and obviously the girls food makes a very good and reliable food source for vermin.  If you're likely to have any problems, then plan ahead.  I always take food in every single evening, and keep a couple of Fenn traps baited at all times.