hens for my garden

[ribbons]

Hi folks,

I have brought two hens from my mums farm & would like to have them living in my garden.

I phoned the enviromental health & thats fine so going to build a hen house tomorrow.

Does anyone get bother from neighbours?

[vicky]

My neighbours like mine but I made sure I told them first and have put the house in a place it shouldn't cause them any noise/smells (not that there are any, but that's what people would worry about).

[janeyo]

My neighbours have no complaints, prob as I slip them a couple of eggs every now and then! One of my neighbousr even looks after them when we go away in return for al the eggs.

bargain!

[MaureenHall]

Where are they going to sleep tonight if you haven't got a coop yet? I never get any bother from any of the neighbours - yet! I might do if I have cockerals this year though

[kirsty b]

Mine are on my allotment, but my neighbours often knock for eggs!

[ChrisB]

No complaints from my neighbours, even when I had 9 cockerels crowing last year!!! Chickens are so relaxing I can't see how anyone can find them objectionable, but then I am a little biased.

As an aside, would you consider having one more chicken. It is thought that it is best to have a minimum of three. That way if anything happens to one of them the other two are still company for each other. Chickens don't thrive on their own.

[RedThorn]

The only request I had from the neighbours was "NO COCKERELS!!!"
Had our girls for a week and already getting requests for eggs...

[frias]

No complaints from my neighbours but one did ask if I was getting a cockerel. Quite happy when I said it would just be hens.

[Hashette]

Welcome along Ribbons

Like everyone else has said, best to check with the neighbours that they don't have a problem, and also phone the council as depending where you live I think there are some places where you need permission first(?).

Keep us posted on how you get on and how the training goes. I don't mean you training them.....

Right, I'm off out into the garden to stand in the teeth of a howling east wind in a dressing gown. Tilly's pecking on the patio doors to remind me that I'm supposed to bring her leftovers about 8am......

[HayleyB]

I don't have a problem with my neighbours but then the nearest is a couple of hundred yards away

Good luck Ribbons, and yep the training will go quickly, also it may be wise to get a third in case one dies - sorry to be morbid - as chooks don't like being alone.

[jemma_charlie]

At risk of being disliked, I think it depends on the size of your garden and how close the neighbours are.
My neighbour has hens only three of them but they like to lay eggs at 5am and like us to know about it, I'm not sure if all hens are as noisy as these ones and I'm not sure what type they are. Although we have a fence between us I do have to take them home every now and then when they appear in my garden or kitchen.
They don't normally bother me unless one of us is poorly or wants a lie in, as once they start laying we all end up getting up.
our gardens are roughly 12x6 meters big with a fence between

[CoraxAurata]

At risk of being disliked, I think it depends on the size of your garden and how close the neighbours are.
My neighbour has hens only three of them but they like to lay eggs at 5am and like us to know about it, I'm not sure if all hens are as noisy as these ones and I'm not sure what type they are. Although we have a fence between us I do have to take them home every now and then when they appear in my garden or kitchen.
They don't normally bother me unless one of us is poorly or wants a lie in, as once they start laying we all end up getting up.
our gardens are roughly 12x6 meters big with a fence between

You could subtley suggest that their keepers keep them shut in their house at night if its dark in there they will be less likely to make (as much) racket! Plus they will be safer from Snagers high-jumping fox (they really do go that high!)

[jemma_charlie]

they do shut them in at night as we get foxes around here.
It isn't too bad as they only have three so it is normally over in about half an hour.
It is the first time they have ever had chickens so they are on a learning curve and I try to help find out information for them as they dont have internet.
one of the things they wanted me to find out for them has been answered on another thread, re: whites sticking to the shell of hard boiled eggs!

[frias]

My hens were a bit noisy when I first got them. Only when out of the coop though, never inside. I thought they were noisy after laying an egg to make sure everyone noticed them and not the egg. I do find that the girls are much quieter now. Just gentle clucking which certainly couldn't be heard from inside the house.