Does anyone else find the rules for keeping chickens in Charles County ridiculous? I have been interested in keeping them for awhile, but with the current situation I managed to convince my husband it would be nice to have egg laying hens. I never even considered it would be an issue since I live on 1.5 acres in agriculture zoning, but apparently charles county says 1 full grown chicken per 1/2 acre regardless of zoning (apparently if I had 2 acres I could keep 4 hens per acre). There are cities in Maryland that allow more than that on a postage stamp size lot! I am not looking to start a business or sell anything, just have enough hens to keep my family in eggs. Are there any movements I could join to help change this? I know I saw that the laws were changed in La Plata and if I am reading it correctly the laws for in the town of La Plata are the same for me in an agricultural zone!
Charles Co. chickens
- Thread starter KatieFloy
- Start date
Scat
Well-Known Member
Where’s your point? You can have 3 chickens Ask your 3 adjoining neighbors if you can keep 3 chickens on their side of the line, then you’d have 12
UglyBear
Well-Known Member
I understand the ridiculous angle -- you are in the ag district, after all.
Still, how about nicely asking the county department that handles this for an exception?
I think the employees there just want to cover their own behinds, and need a piece of paper on file in case they get complaints from some busybody shrew.
I heard of people in Calvert that went the nice route. They filled out an application for exception, talked to county people, showed that they have adequate land and facilities for chicken refuse not to contaminate the water supply, and all was good.
There were two families that went the confrontational route, and had the hammer dropped on them.
Still, how about nicely asking the county department that handles this for an exception?
I think the employees there just want to cover their own behinds, and need a piece of paper on file in case they get complaints from some busybody shrew.
I heard of people in Calvert that went the nice route. They filled out an application for exception, talked to county people, showed that they have adequate land and facilities for chicken refuse not to contaminate the water supply, and all was good.
There were two families that went the confrontational route, and had the hammer dropped on them.
@KatieFloy What are your neighbors like? Have you spoken to them about it? If they don't care, why not just go ahead and get them?
RareBreed
Throwing the deuces
Yes, easier to ask for forgiveness than to get permission.
Exactly. Chickens are not cattle. Personally, I have two acres and have had chicken visitors in my yard a few times. I have NO idea where they came from, but they always go home to roost. And they eat the bugs.
RareBreed
Throwing the deuces
Not chickens but our neighbor had ducks. I think chickens would have been smarter. The ducks would sleep in the middle of the main road especially at night when they were hard to see. I heard a coyote or fox got 1-2 of them. Haven't seen the others in a while.Exactly. Chickens are not cattle. Personally, I have two acres and have had chicken visitors in my yard a few times. I have NO idea where they came from, but they always go home to roost. And they eat the bugs.
And ducks crap all over the place, worse than chickens.Not chickens but our neighbor had ducks. I think chickens would have been smarter. The ducks would sleep in the middle of the main road especially at night when they were hard to see. I heard a coyote or fox got 1-2 of them. Haven't seen the others in a while.
We're just going to go ahead and do whatever and see what happens I guess. My closest neighbor knows about them and doesn't have a problem (or didn't say to my face). My next closest neighbor I can't even see from my house. It just really bothers me that the county has this overly restrictive law (in my opinion) on what I can do on my own property.
I understand the busybody shrew and the county employees. I don't blame them. I just think that the regulations should not be the same for inside town limits and agricultural zoning.
I understand the busybody shrew and the county employees. I don't blame them. I just think that the regulations should not be the same for inside town limits and agricultural zoning.
AnthonyJames
R.I.P. My Brother Rick
I've heard if you want to know about Hens, this is the place to be.
We used to live in a townhouse with an HOA. The busybody shrews were so active they were peeking between the cracks in people's privacy fences. We specifically looked for a house without an HOA when we moved, and yet here we are. You just can't win
I don't recommend standing behind my briefs, you may not enjoy the blow back.
We used to live in a townhouse with an HOA. The busybody shrews were so active they were peeking between the cracks in people's privacy fences. We specifically looked for a house without an HOA when we moved, and yet here we are. You just can't win
[/QUOT
If I was the neighbor I would black mail you for 12 eggs a week.
NorthBeachPerso
Honorary SMIB
Unfortunately the rural pioneers who have moved down here, and have agitated for these no farming allowed ag zones, got their knowledge of rural living from watching Deliverance. It didn't have chickens in it, nor other farming practices either.
no. we specifically bought a house with no hoa when we moved.