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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think that this statement means I CAN have pet chickens, not that I can't?

32 replies

MaMight · 24/04/2010 12:42

I want to get 3 chickens.

We live in rented accomodation (outside UK so UK laws not applicable).

Dh has said that I must first clear it with our landlord and the community association .

I have just looked online and the rules state...

"PETS
No animals, fowl, reptiles or insects should be kept within the Community, except domestic dogs, cats, birds and fish which may be kept as household pets, provided they are not kept, bred or raised for commercial purposes."

I triumphantly showed the above paragraph to DH as it clearly states that pet birds are fine, but he insists that it means no fowl allowed and seems to think I am trying to pull a fast one.

He is wrong and I am right.

Right?

OP posts:

gingernutlover · 24/04/2010 12:48

from wikipedia

"As opposed to "fowl", "poultry" is a term for any kind of domesticated bird or bird captive-raised for meat or eggs; ostriches for example are sometimes kept as poultry, but are neither gamefowl nor waterfowl."

which seems to support your argument, but the bit below makes me think they mean you cannot keep chickens

"In colloquial speech, the term "fowl" is however often used near-synonymously with "poultry" or even "bird", and many languages do not distinguish between "poultry" and "fowl".

Doodleydoo · 24/04/2010 12:48

I think fowl means chickens, but I could be wrong - birds are usually caged birds such as parrots/budgies.

gingernutlover · 24/04/2010 12:50

so strictly speaking you ould have an emu, as long as it was a pet

ChocHobNob · 24/04/2010 12:50

I would have thought the same as Doodleydoo. Fowl would be chickens, birds would be caged birds.

tootyflooty · 24/04/2010 12:50

if you think the terminology means you can get chickens, then surely it is not a problem to check with the landlord, I would anyway just for the sake of good relations

DecorHate · 24/04/2010 12:51

I think your dh is right, sorry.

southeastastra · 24/04/2010 12:52

i think it means no chickens too, but it's not very clear is it?

Original poster

MaMight · 24/04/2010 12:55

But a chicken is a bird.

OP posts:

HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst · 24/04/2010 12:58

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn on request of the poster.

ChippingIn · 24/04/2010 12:59

Sorry MaMight - it's pretty clear that they are talking about domestic/pet birds - parrots, budgies, canaries etc - not chickens!!

Sorry!

Original poster

MaMight · 24/04/2010 12:59

Aren't they saying "No fowl except pet birds"? And my chickens would be pet birds.

OP posts:

nickelbabe · 24/04/2010 13:03

i would take it to mean i could.

any stupidly worded statement deserves to be taken apart for what it is.
unclear and full of holes.

and they will be pets: my chickens are pets. (that earn their keep!!)

stoppinattwo · 24/04/2010 13:03

i thik itmeans no chickens.....maybe because of the potential 5am wake up call??

in which case just get really loud parrots

nickelbabe · 24/04/2010 13:04

ps: it's the part that says "provided they are not kept, bred or raised for commercial purposes."
that's your winner here.

IngridFletcher · 24/04/2010 13:08

I really think fowl in this case encompasses chickens - whether it is zoologically correct or not!

Pet birds means caged budgies etc.

TrillianAstra · 24/04/2010 13:21

Go and ask, you ninny.

Are you really considering getting them, then arguing with the rules if they say you must get rid of them?

Original poster

MaMight · 24/04/2010 13:44

Oh poo.

Just found another document.

"No animals, including poultry, fowl, wild animals, horses, cattle, sheep, goats, swine or any other type of animal not considered to be a domestic household pet shall be brought into or kept within the Master Community, except that domestic dogs, cats, birds, fish and reptiles may be kept as household pets, provided that they are not kept, bred or raised for commercial purposes, nor, as determined by the Owners' Association, kept in unreasonable quantities."

Well that's the end of that then, isn't it.

OP posts:

BeenBeta · 24/04/2010 13:48

The word 'fowl' means poultry, chickens etc.

The rule is there for a good reason.

All poultry has the potential to attract vemin, create smells, dust and a noise nuisance (my cockerel wakes at 5.00 am).

You are (sadly) in the wrong and your DH is right. Your neighbours would be very annoyed and down on you like a ton of bricks.

Suggest you post in the MN Chicken Keepers topic and see what they say as they know all things chicken. Bizarely, I am a reluctant chicken keeper (4 plus 1 cockerel) on behalf of my landlord who is the actual owner. I used to clean turkey/broiler sheds for a living and have major rat problem in my garden so am biased in my views.

I also suggest you ask your landlord but if you are really adamant then you could always move house.

waitingforbedtime · 24/04/2010 13:51

Pet birds are budgies, parrots etc - it basically means you can keep traditional pets inside the house but cannot keep chicken etc (fowl) outside.

ant3nna · 24/04/2010 14:03

Apparently, Allotment Act 1950 means you can keep chickens on any land despite and contracts, byelaws etc to the contrary.

There is something on the Omlet forums and Practical Poultry about it and they said that it had been checked out by a solicitor.

Basically, The Allotments Act 1950 states that regardless of clauses in leases/ tenancies/ covenants/ contracts or agreements to the contrary, the occupier of any land can keep hens and rabbits on it, for their own use, so long as they set up and maintain adequate housing and so long as they make sure that the hens/rabbits don't become a nuisance or pose a threat to health.

The 1925 Allotment Act (of which the 1950s act is an amendment) states that it does just not just cover what we know to be an 'allotment' but gardens...

In the Act ?Allotment? means an allotment garden as defined by the M1 Allotments Act, 1922, or any parcel of land not more than five acres in extent cultivated or intended to be cultivated as a garden or farm, or partly as a garden and partly as a farm but the clause refers to 'any land' any way.

nickelbabe · 24/04/2010 15:19

that's a good point ant, but she said she's not UK, so unfortunately it doesn't apply

and BeenBeta: a chicken attracts rats no more than a dog or cat who poos in the garden or a compost heap....
and likewise with the smell.
the noise nuisane fair enough, but i would assume she's not planning on having a cock if she's only after the eggs and not breeding.

and fowl doesn't include chickens and turkeys. it does include ducks and geese, though

ant3nna · 24/04/2010 15:38

Need to use my eyes more

nickelbabe · 24/04/2010 15:48

LilyBolero · 24/04/2010 15:51

chickens, even pet ones, are regarded as 'non-domestic' by DEFRA - if they die they have to be disposed of by approved means, they can't just be buried.

lilalien · 24/04/2010 15:57

I'd say check with the landlord. Chickens are domestic birds but only in a farm/smallholding sense. You're right - they do make great pets (I've had 4 but down to 2 now - bad fox ) but can be very noisy and produce huge amounts of poo! So if your landlord agrees you may still get complaints from neighbours?

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