chickens in the back garden

Are you a council or housing association tenant? If so, you should be able to refer to your contract. Different councils will vary in approach. If you are privately owned, there might still be clauses on you free/leasehold agreement which allow, don't specify or disallow poultry in the garden. You seem to imply that you'll get "grassed up" so perhaps you aren't allowed where you are.

Regardless of the red tape, its great to keep a couple of chickens running around the garden.

Hi,
I keep 3 in my back garden. I thought about it for a long time before I committed to them as I wasnt sure if it was fair when I was at work most days.
 
Anyway, I went on a local chicken keeping course to help make my mind up, so I would advise you do one or go and see someone who keeps them if you know anyone.
I must admit that when I first got them i wondered if I had done the right thing, but after a couple of weeks I got into a routine and it is a lot easier.

I think the only thing I regret is buying a chicken ark I can not physically get into (the run part that is!) as I think, on reflection, it would be easier to manage overall if I could get into the run.

As regards noise, they don't seem to make much, the odd cluck but thats all.  I hear more noise from the chickens 3 doors down but even they aren't 'noisey'
I give my neighbours some eggs every now and then also, but not to keep the peace, I just don't need 3 eggs a day!

I did let them know I was getting chickens.

GO FOR IT is what I say.
 

I think there are rules about keeping a cock in a backgarden, but certainly not hens (unless you're renting, of course) The only problem you could have is is you don't keep them clean enough and it attracts vermin, then environmental health could step in. Otherwise go for it, I have 3 in my teeny back garden!

You have a statuatory right under the allotments act to keep hens and rabbits in your back garden.
You cannot surrender this right, any clause in your tenancy agreement or covenant that says you have surrender this right is unenforcable, and anyone attempting to take you to court on it is going to be in a for a nasty shock.

That said, if you are a private tenant, the land lord might simply decide to refuse to renew your lease....

You are still bound by all normal laws in relation to noise, hygene, ect.

Idealy, you need three chickens as a minimum.

I've spoken to various neighbours on all three sides of the garden and two or three doors away and the unanimous response is they like hearing them. One even squawks back when the "I've just laid an egg" announcement is relayed across the neighbourhood.

Sitting in my back garden now, I can hear several dogs, a band saw, a very noisy petrol lawn mower, various children and someone practicing the drums. The chickens are burbling away quietly in the background....

Dominic, thats really good news, I shall tell them as they live in quite a rural area and would love some but always thought they couldn't and have obviously never thought to look into it any further!