AIBU to think I could keep chickens in a normal house in an suburban area?

[KitKat1985]

I've always wanted to have some pet chickens. I've been looking today at these 'Eglu' houses (link below) and it's making me think maybe I could just do it and keep 2-3 chickens in our garden. I've had friends that have had them and found them lovely pets, and our DDs would love them. But is it a completely nuts idea? Our house is detached, but our neighbours are in reasonably close proximity. We have a small-medium sized garden. Has anyone done this? Do they cause problems (noise, smell etc) that are likely to make me a very unpopular neighbour?

www.omlet.co.uk/shop/chicken_keeping/

No reason why not. Go for it.

It's what eglus were designed fror, I think. Seen lots in small suburban gardens.

Please don’t get a cockerel.
longest days of the year, Zone 2 London, nearly caused a riot

If you're in Scotland, need to check your title deeds. I'm not allowed poultry

Oh no I absolutely wouldn't get a cockrel! I don't want my neighbours to hate me. And frankly I don't fancy getting woken up at 4am either

You aren’t allowed on a lot of housing developments- I’d check first.

It's fine. They dont smell or make a lot of noise. Certainly less intrusive/annoying than a barking dog or wandering cat in your neighbourhood.

You need to make sure your garden is secure and has high enough fences because they can fly a bit. Or are you planning to keep them in a run all the time? I think that can also work but they do like to have some freedom to roam if possible.

Aren't they noisy? They wake up early as well... hmmm not sure I'd like my neighbours to have them lol

My friends neighbours had some and they apparently attracted rats, which was very unpleasant for all involved and caused a huge falling out.

We're in England. We live in a mortgaged freehold house so shouldn't be any issues in that regard I think.

Rats are very common when keeping chickens

Our garden has a 6 foot fence all around it, so my plan would be for them to live in a coup / run most of the time, and let them have the run of the garden when we were home (not practical all the time as we have urban foxes around here).

Why would they attract rats?

Okay, will definitely need to think about how to best manage any issues with rats then.

If you're permitted to have them, and you don't have foxes near you then no problem as long as you collect any eggs regularly as they really stink as they rot

I used to live in a house with chickens next door, even without the rooster they were fucking noisy and up with the first sliver of sunlight. I'd love to have them but wouldn't want to inflict them on the neighbours.

@HeadintheiClouds I think it's the chicken feed rather than chickens per se that attract rats, as I understand it.

Everyone I know with chickens also get rats.

My mum had them for years in her garden in the Surrey computer belt.
Started off with just a few and ended up with about 15. They can be quite a tie as you need to lock them up each night and let them out in the morning.

friends neighbours had some and they apparently attracted rats

So can rabbits and guinea pigs, though. So can a wild bird feeder.

My sister’s neighbour has chickens. They’re no bother to her. There’s no cockerel, as that would be antisocial, but they just sort of gently cluck now and again. As a neighbour she barely knows they’re there. I know her neighbour has to put a lot of effort into looking after them and making sure they’re safe from foxes etc.

They attract rats. I don’t think your property is in the right area. It’s unfair to neighbours.

Oh, ok. Every other house where I grew up had chickens, I (thankfully!) never realised there was a rat problem.

Regardless of mortgage or freehold there are often bylaws or covenants on the deeds to prevent livestock being kept.

Chickens do smell and are noisy.

They are noisy af btw.