Some advice needed before Tuesday

[xor37h]

Hi Everyone.

Looking for some general advice on keeping 2 - 4 chooks in a Council Property.
I live in a council house in North Ayrshire, Scotland and have applied to council to keep 2 - 4 hens in a chicken coop with separate run.
Firstly, they have said that this is the first request they have ever had for keeping chickens in Saltcoats, which I find hard to believe as I know people in private houses who have kept chickens for years.
Secondly they said that BEFORE THEY REFUSE permission, because they are seen as non domesticated animals, they would like to come out an see my plans for coop and run.
Anyone got any advice on how best to approach this, was thinking of using the argument that I know people with chickens and also, why are pigeon fanciers allowed to keep pigeons or does anyone have any experience of dealing with North Ayrshire Council.
My brother has worked in poultry husbandry for over 30 years, manager of a free range farm in Kirkcaldy for 30 years and he certainly knows his stuff, so I would not be stuck for help/advice both from him and this site.
I could keep them at my allotments in Kilwinning, but really want to keep them in my own back door, which is quite a substantial size...

Thanks for help/guidance in advance

Kenny

[jackarmy]

When i queried my local council whether i needed permission to keep hens in my garden ( private house so may be different ) their only concern was whether or not a cockerrel would be involved to annoy the neighbours.

[Bigmallly]

You cannot use the argument that private owners have chooks. It's their property. It may be wise to have a chat with your neighbours first as they may object on the grounds that they "may" attract vermin. I get the impression that you are against a council visit.

[veggiechicken]

Hi Kenny and welcome.
Is there something in your council tenancy agreement that says you have to ask permission from the council? As Bigmallly suggests, it would be best to check with your neighbours that they have no objections before the Council call.

[Guest]

Hi and welcome to the vine

Allotment Act 1950, section 12 but even still it is not worth the hassle half the time.

Good Luck

[Scarlet]

I think it's quite a normal procedure for the council to inspect where you will place the henhouse, how big it will be and the impact it will cause on your neighbours. Vermin - picking up food during the night, where you will keep feed etc. noise, obviously you won't be keeping cockerals but hens can be super loud after they've laid or if another laying hen is in the box shd wants. Clucking noises first thing in the morning can be loud too - how far from your neighbours will you be keeping the house? Smell also springs to mind, if it's a fixed run, the ground can become smelly if it's not dugout and backfilled a couple of times a year. Where will you be dumping the chicken poo, this can smell and it needs to be composted before adding to the garden.Be prepared with your answers. Get your neighbours on your side, one of our regular grapes unfortunately had some miserable neighbours and she had to get rid of hers chooks after a complaint to the council . I think pigeons are looked on the same. As for numbers, chickens are flock animals - you should ideally be thinking of 3+.

[skeggijon]

You can download the relevant section of the Allotments act 1950 to show them. Most councils seem to go with the premise that 6 chickens or less is considered domestic. If they allow tenants to keep rabbits, pigeons, or an outdoor aviary, there is no excuse to deny chickens.
Any of the above are equally likely to attract vermin.
Most councils do however restrict the keeping of cockerels because of the noise factor.

[xor37h]

Thanks for the advice so far

I always approach the council when doing anything in garden, so I avoid having to take it down if neighbours complain. from the weather station affixed to my gable end to the raised bed for vegetables, got permission so as to keep on right side of council. Not to fussed about council visit Bigmally, would just like to be able to backup my application with some hard and fast facts.
Chicken poo will be collected and composted at my main plot in the local allotments and then used as fertiliser both at home an on allotments...Eggs will obviously be eaten and chickens cleaned regularly.
One neighbour might be a problem, but as her Solar panels are used as roosts for
10 -20 pigeons, not her fault I know, but still the same, they are there and I never complain about pigeon faeces, dead pigeons and eating my seeds in my raised beds, but I am conscious of the fact she might complain.
Have 2 potential sights for coop in mind, so will discuss it with housing officer.
There is nothing in the tenancy agreement about poultry only states that you are allowed to keep one pet and get permission for any more.
Chickens are not pets though....?

thanks

Kenny

[Bigmallly]

Good luck Kenny, keep us posted.

[Scarlet]

Chickens are not pets though....?

Chickens are livestock, in small numbers they may be classed as pets ? Not sure? As for your neighbours wild pigeon problem (she probably hates it just as much as you) they may well be your problem if you don't put a cover over your run they will eat all the chicken food.

[veggiechicken]

I don't think you should even mention the problems you/your neighbour has with wild pigeons. Nobody can control where wild birds perch. Its irrelevant to whether or not you should have chooks in your garden and using them as part of your defence would make you sound petty.
Found this advice Are there any restrictions on keeping a few chickens in the garden? I know its not a Scottish council but it may give you some idea of what the council will be looking for when they visit.

[muddled]

I would try to have answers to concerns ready to hand.
From my own experience of keeping hens in my council house garden these would include;

Vermin. Which are attracted to the food rather than the hens themselves, therefore; food to be kept in metal bins with secure lids that are stood on concrete. Also, feeders suspended above ground and filled in the morning and emptied at end of day.

Noise. As already mentioned, hens do cluck quite loudly to announce laying or to sound alarm. Therefore, hens released from coop at a reasonable time (7.30am?) to prevent a dawn chorus.

Smell and flies. Set out your plan for minimising smell, what flooring for the run? if dirt floor I suggest deep litter and regular liming or if concrete maybe show them your power washer? Also, lemon balm growing in your garden which when thrown in the run gives off citronella scent and deters flies.

Bird flu. Ensure that you point out your run will be covered to prevent contamination from wild birds droppings.

Disposal of waste. This is quite a big one for a council. Prove that you will not be putting chicken poop in the household rubbis or allowing it to build up on your property/garden. If you have an allotment show them proof of that and say you will be taking the bedding and poop there. If you don't, find someone that has and get a letter from them to say you are passing it to them. Pigeon droppings are an expensive problem for most councils and this tends to be their biggest fear when someone says they want to keep birds.

Good luck, I really hope it works out for you!

[xor37h]

Thanks everyone for all the support.
I will let you all know what the outcomes is.

thanks again

Kenny

[kimble]

Thanks everyone for all the support.
I will let you all know what the outcomes is.

thanks again

Kenny

I have lived in many places as a builder and have a very strong code of behavior about this kind of thing - Never tell on others.

If some one just got some hens and are doing fine with no permission then good luck to them. If the council has it brought to their attention some troublemaker in the council could go and make their life miserable.

I believe in live and let live and we have to worry about out own stuff, and not mess with others stuff.

Sorry to ramble on - but I would say like the above posters, have the entire plan on paper, the waste disposal, run size and plans, and so on - neighbors permission is always a huge asset if you feel like trying that (a no is bad so only ask if assured of a yes) then take it to the council; but not bring the other chicken keepers to their attention, if they are doing well do not wreck it for them, if they nave no permission.

[kimble]

Also some chickens are noisier than others. Like my orphington hens ave very loud - they talk a lot too. My banti crosses are much quieter. I think that should be looked into as well. Loud hens can be very vocal.