Raising chickens in my yard

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OldHillcrestGuy

Well-Known Member
Ive got 2 neighbors on my street doing chickens. One had a rooster for awhile across the street from me, was quite noisy with the cockadoodle do's, didnt bother me at all, was great change from the 5 dogs in 3 yards around me with their barking every time someone walks down the street.
Told the wife why dont we get some chickens, told her they have some nice chicken coops at Tractor Supply, looked at me like I was crazy.
 
R

red_explorer

Well-Known Member
OldHillcrestGuy said:
Ive got 2 neighbors on my street doing chickens. One had a rooster for awhile across the street from me, was quite noisy with the cockadoodle do's, didnt bother me at all, was great change from the 5 dogs in 3 yards around me with their barking every time someone walks down the street.
Told the wife why dont we get some chickens, told her they have some nice chicken coops at Tractor Supply, looked at me like I was crazy.
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I have mine and love them. I started out with broilers in the Spring...really yummy!!! Now I have laying hens....six from Tractor Supply, and 10 from eggs a friend hatched. I have a few roosters that need to go away, but the hens are wonderful!!! They started laying about four weeks ago....and now I am up to four eggs a day. Its such a treat!! Mine are actually under a trampoline connected to a small shed....they can go out under the trampoline, or be in the shed. They're reasonably safe, and dont bother my neighbors.


Just saw this...
The Locally Grown Movement Sprouts Feathers | Bay Weekly
 
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Vince

Vince

......
OldHillcrestGuy said:
Ive got 2 neighbors on my street doing chickens. One had a rooster for awhile across the street from me, was quite noisy with the cockadoodle do's, didnt bother me at all, was great change from the 5 dogs in 3 yards around me with their barking every time someone walks down the street.
Told the wife why dont we get some chickens, told her they have some nice chicken coops at Tractor Supply, looked at me like I was crazy.
Click to expand...
My neighbor about 2 houses down from me raises chickens. :shrug: Only thing the bugs me is the rooster constantly crowing.
 
glhs837

glhs837

Power with Control
OldHillcrestGuy said:
Ive got 2 neighbors on my street doing chickens. One had a rooster for awhile across the street from me, was quite noisy with the cockadoodle do's, didnt bother me at all, was great change from the 5 dogs in 3 yards around me with their barking every time someone walks down the street.
Told the wife why dont we get some chickens, told her they have some nice chicken coops at Tractor Supply, looked at me like I was crazy.
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sounds like you need fewer chickens, and more land:)
 
itsbob

itsbob

I bowl overhand
..._ said:
Calvert just ruled you need 3+ acres.... Sorry...
Call Courthouse and ask....
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Can't find that anywhere..

One county in MD (not Calvert) went from requiring 1/4 acre to an acre, but I can't find anything anywhere requiring 3 acres.

That sounds more for Horses, Cows or Pigs.. a LOT of overkill for somebody that just wants to own a couple of chickens.
 
itsbob

itsbob

I bowl overhand
Interesting what I've found..

Calvert County has a new zoning ordinance of 3 acres for any livestoc, no variance for poultry/ chickens... BUT "inner city" Solomons has an "addendum" that states 6 chickens on any lot regardless of size.

So if you live in a Rural Zoned area in Calvert, NO chickens on lots less than 3 acres, but if you live in the "in town" portion of Solomons (also in Calvert County) you can have 6 chickens even if you have a 500 sq ft lot.

More great work by our local politicians..
 
itsbob

itsbob

I bowl overhand
steppinthrax said:
I read this somewhere too, but this is only for if you are selling the eggs and chickens. If it's for personnel use then the 3+ acres doesn't apply.
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Well, not what I found this morning. What I found was a family that has 5 chickens and six roosters but has a one acre lot.

They had to file an appeal.

They had to use the argument that it was therapeutic for their autistic son, and the chcickens were pets, not livestock.

Country granted them their waiver BUT they must get rid of the rooster (they gave them 7 days) and the chickens can not be replaced as they are lost, and the waiver does NOT transfer to future property owners.

Ridiculous.
 
S

steppinthrax

Active Member
itsbob said:
Can't find that anywhere..

One county in MD (not Calvert) went from requiring 1/4 acre to an acre, but I can't find anything anywhere requiring 3 acres.

That sounds more for Horses, Cows or Pigs.. a LOT of overkill for somebody that just wants to own a couple of chickens.
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It is here....

http://www.co.cal.md.us/DocumentCenter/View/1416

It is in the Calvert County Zoning Ordinance.

"Animal Husbandry
The care and/or breeding of livestock on a farm and
raised for sale or profit, including but not limited to
the following animals: horses, cattle, sheep, swine,
goats, bison, llamas, alpacas, rabbits, and poultry"

"1. Size of the parcel is three acres or more; and
2. the property qualifies for and receives an Agricultural Use Assessment
from the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation."
 
itsbob

itsbob

I bowl overhand
steppinthrax said:
It is here....

http://www.co.cal.md.us/DocumentCenter/View/1416

It is in the Calvert County Zoning Ordinance.

"Animal Husbandry
The care and/or breeding of livestock on a farm and
raised for sale or profit, including but not limited to
the following animals: horses, cattle, sheep, swine,
goats, bison, llamas, alpacas, rabbits, and poultry"

"1. Size of the parcel is three acres or more; and
2. the property qualifies for and receives an Agricultural Use Assessment
from the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation."
Click to expand...


I agree with what you are saying, but not the way the county commissioners are applying the rule.

Board Allows Couple to Keep Hens - Southern Maryland News


http://pass.co.cal.md.us/assets/Planning_Zoning/BOA_Agendas/10-3643Gottleid.pdf
 
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steppinthrax

Active Member
itsbob said:
I agree with what you are saying, but not the way the county commissioners are applying the rule.

Board Allows Couple to Keep Hens - Southern Maryland News


http://pass.co.cal.md.us/assets/Planning_Zoning/BOA_Agendas/10-3643Gottleid.pdf
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OK, You are right!!!!!

I just contacted the Calvert County Community Department of Planning and Building.

Since I have below 3 acres I would need to file an application for waiver. The fee is $300.00. She indicated that the reason doesn't need to be dire, in other words I don't really need a reason that would require me to have chickens. I can simply say I have children and I want the eggs for nutritional value and education. They will have to come out and do a site inspection, I will need to indicate the type if chickens I plan to keep, where I'm planning to keep them and all my intentions. They will also come to my area and interview my neighbors to make sure they are OK with it.

Sounds like a bunch of bull#### to me. The only problems I have with this is that I have one neighbor I know will bitch and I have to pay $300.00!!!!!!1
 
itsbob

itsbob

I bowl overhand
steppinthrax said:
Sounds like a bunch of bull#### to me. The only problems I have with this is that I have one neighbor I know will bitch and I have to pay $300.00!!!!!!1
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I guess the ony way around that is to offer some of the eggs to the PITA neghbor..

$300 sounds totally insane..
 
SoMDGirl42

SoMDGirl42

Well-Known Member
steppinthrax said:
OK, You are right!!!!!

I just contacted the Calvert County Community Department of Planning and Building.

Since I have below 3 acres I would need to file an application for waiver. The fee is $300.00. She indicated that the reason doesn't need to be dire, in other words I don't really need a reason that would require me to have chickens. I can simply say I have children and I want the eggs for nutritional value and education. They will have to come out and do a site inspection, I will need to indicate the type if chickens I plan to keep, where I'm planning to keep them and all my intentions. They will also come to my area and interview my neighbors to make sure they are OK with it.

Sounds like a bunch of bull#### to me. The only problems I have with this is that I have one neighbor I know will bitch and I have to pay $300.00!!!!!!1
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how much is the fine if you get caught having chickens without the $300 dollar waiver? Might be cheaper to just get the damn chickens and wait to get caught and plead ingnorance on your part for not "knowing" you need a permit.
 
itsbob

itsbob

I bowl overhand
steppinthrax said:
OK, You are right!!!!!

I just contacted the Calvert County Community Department of Planning and Building.

Since I have below 3 acres I would need to file an application for waiver. The fee is $300.00. She indicated that the reason doesn't need to be dire, in other words I don't really need a reason that would require me to have chickens. I can simply say I have children and I want the eggs for nutritional value and education. They will have to come out and do a site inspection, I will need to indicate the type if chickens I plan to keep, where I'm planning to keep them and all my intentions. They will also come to my area and interview my neighbors to make sure they are OK with it.

Sounds like a bunch of bull#### to me. The only problems I have with this is that I have one neighbor I know will bitch and I have to pay $300.00!!!!!!1
Click to expand...

So now I'm wondering what that form was we signed at closing.. it was a STATE of MD form, and not a county form..

That ALL residents had a right to farm.. our realtor called it our right to have chickens form.
 
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