Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Do I need neighbours permission before I rescue some hens

101 replies

ImprobablePuffin · 28/07/2021 16:41

Hiya, so I am planning to rescue 4-6 ex battery hens and have a lovely large garden for them to roam in. I have a coop and everything sorted out but I've been told by a friend I should get neighbours permission first?

I don't see why their preference trumps mine and I'm not sure the etiquette here but I'm not getting a cockerel so there'll be no cockadoodledooing going on.

Would you get permission first or not?

OP posts:
FelicityPike · 28/07/2021 16:42

I would at least tell them.
Chickens might attract rats and foxes.

WouldBeGood · 28/07/2021 16:43

I don’t know, but I’d be really pissed off if my neighbour got hens. Unless you live in the countryside where it’s to be expected.

MajesticElephant · 28/07/2021 16:47

Have you checked with your local council? Some areas are prohibited from keeping hens. Our neighbour got chickens. It didn’t end well when the other neighbours cat was killed by the poison the council had to put down to kill the inevitable rat infestation. I wouldn’t expect to be asked for permission as a neighbour but I wouldn’t be happy given my personal experience.

GrrRightBackAtYou · 28/07/2021 16:47

Maybe check your deeds, there was a covenant on our old house deeds saying no livestock & gave a special mention about there being no chickens -no idea why.

It wouldn’t bother me if my neighbours got chickens & I wouldn’t expect them to ask my permission -as you say, there isn’t going to be a cockerel.

Maybe your friend wouldn’t like to live next door to chickens & would be annoyed if her neighbours got some without checking with her first.

onetimeusername2021 · 28/07/2021 16:48

I wouldn't. btw i hope your my next door neighbour as id love hens but due to 4 kids i just dont have time !

dalismoustache · 28/07/2021 16:48

Unless your chickens are likely to be wandering into their garden, I don't see why you would need to tell them. If you think they'll be awkward about it, perhaps you could offer to give them any surplus eggs? As for rats and foxes, they'd be attracted into your garden and away from theirs ( I would have thought..)

DogsSausages · 28/07/2021 16:48

I would love to keep chickens, do they still need to be kept indoors with the new rules. I guess their food could attract vermin. What would you so if the ndn objects.

AlwaysLatte · 28/07/2021 16:49

I would let them know, but you don't have to ask permission! Cockerels ARE noisy (I've got one) but the hens are fairly quiet. The important thing is to take the food and water in overnight. I put the food in a watertight lidded container near the coop.

30degreesandmeltinghere · 28/07/2021 16:49

Our council gave permission but def no to a noisey cockeral...

AlwaysLatte · 28/07/2021 16:50

No they don't need to be kept indoor atm but it's wise to have that provision in case it suddenly comes back in.

FogHornInTheAttic · 28/07/2021 16:50

I'd love it as they'd be an opportunity to buy fresh eggs

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 28/07/2021 16:51

Be aware that you are usually required to keep chickens "indoors" for a few months every winter due to avian flu. Obviously you can't keep chickens in the coop 24/7 so think about some sort of roofed contained outdoor enclosure for them.

MrsFin · 28/07/2021 16:52

@FelicityPike

I would at least tell them. Chickens might attract rats and foxes.

Might? Hmm

fluffedup · 28/07/2021 16:52

I had neighbours who kept chickens, it had zero impact on me, although their garden was trashed.

Perhaps just make sure the coop is not close to the fence.

averylongtimeago · 28/07/2021 16:54

Are they going to be totally free range in your garden? They can do a lot of damage to flower beds and veg patches.

If you don't keep them clean or leave food about they can smell and attract rats.

Iliketeaagain · 28/07/2021 16:55

As. a PP said, check your house deeds. We had chickens in our old house, (fortunately) they had both died of old age before we moved as our current deeds say no chickens in the gardens.

And I'd give neighbours some warning, our chickens were NOISY especially in the summer if we weren't up at the crack of dawn to open the coop door as we shut it at night. Slightest bit of light and they were clucking to be allowed out. It might help if you offer them some free eggs - my chickens laid the best tasting eggs I've ever had.

SomethingToldTheWildGeese · 28/07/2021 16:55

I would not get my neighbours permission first.

If you ask, you're inevitably going to get people who don't like the idea... so that's just going to create an ill will when you go and get them anyway.

(Because you ARE going to get them. They are one of the best pets, and hens that have been cooped up in barns deserve to have the chance of a better life rather than be sent straight to slaughter.)

(Plus, if you're careful about keeping them clean and not scattering food for them, then you're not going to have any problems with rodents.)

BlueLobelia · 28/07/2021 16:56

yeah check your deeds. Mine sadly says I cannot keep any fowl.

Most disappointed by it (although my boss at the time told me to ignore it because 'who would know'...... he was / is a conveyancing solicitor!!)

Check deeds. Ask council. Check neighbours. Hopefully all is fine and you are battery hens a-go. Good luck.

AlwaysLatte · 28/07/2021 16:58

Plus, if you're careful about keeping them clean and not scattering food for them, then you're not going to have any problems with rodents.)
Ditto to this. I use this hanging feeder which can't get stuff kicked into it or spill, and we just take it in before dusk.

Do I need neighbours permission before I rescue some hens
IWantAllTheDogsInTheWorld · 28/07/2021 16:59

I have ex-batts as pets and it has never occurred to me to ask my neighbours permission! I keep their food off the ground in a hanging food dispenser and tip their water bowls out every night to try and prevent attracting rats. I also hose the paths and hen house floor clean from poo nearly every night and I throw away any uneaten food. They can be noisy usually if there's an hierarchy squabble, an egg just laid or they've spotted some tasty food they don't want to share but having said that they make great pets, very friendly plus bonus eggs too!

My neighbour is a bird watcher and puts out a lot of food for the birds including leaving fresh fruit on the ground for them daily, he's always complaining about seeing rats on his path, luckily it started before I had hens at this house otherwise I'm sure he would be blaming my hens for them and not his own bird feeding habits!

Enjoy your girls if you decide to get them!

LaurieFairyCake · 28/07/2021 16:59

I had chickens in the town for a decade, no rats. I had a terrier and he would definitely have seen a rat.

No, you don't have to tell them. One side of my neighbours didn't notice for years.

WentworthPrison · 28/07/2021 17:00

I would be annoyed if my neighbours got hens. They would drive my dog nuts, they smell if not maintained really well, their feed attracts vermin and they can attract cats and foxes.

Charlieiscool · 28/07/2021 17:03

They are noisy and smelly and not ok in the city. I’d hate my neighbours to get chickens.

HungryHippo11 · 28/07/2021 17:05

It would be nice to inform them but at the end of the day its not a legal requirement. If they are very against it when you mention it, you may want to think twice just to maintain neighbourly happiness, but you wouldn't be obliged to.

Galassia · 28/07/2021 17:06

One of my dogs would be hellbent in trying to get into your garden and chase and mail if not probably kill the chickens.

Check if your neighbours have dogs.