4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Tombull10]

I'm thinking of getting an Eglu and three ex-bats. I've been in touch with the council and they have no problem with this, but they have said that any complaints about noise or smell would have to be investigated. I'm concerned about this as many other houses overlook our garden.

 

I was just wondering if anybody else has had problems with neighbours complaining about noise or smell?? Any info would be much appreciated.

[Egluntyne]

Welcome to the forum.

 

They will only smell if you let them. A good "housekeeping" regime will ensure that they don't.

 

Re noise....some are noisier than others, it is impossible to give a definite answer. In my experience my ex-batts have been on the quiet side.

[Larkspurs]

This is something that we were concerned with too. We have some friends that keep chickens and they said that 2 wouldn't make much noise apart from a few bits of clucking and the occasional squawk. Which is nothing more than comes from the farm at the back and normal neighbourhood sounds anyway. As for smell, chicken poo is smelly but many other forum posters here mention that the runs themselves if kept clean (every few weeks) should be ok.

 

As Egluntine has posted, you can't predict the noise anyway so we have fingers crossed!

 

We have one neighbour that we know will have raised eyebrows and will likely complain but others which are fine. The approach we are taking is to make sure that the run is clean to minimise any smell and only keep a couple of chickens to minimise noise. The council, if they are called, still have a duty to investigate and that's the key. if they find nothing wrong or everything "normal" they can't just tell you to get rid of them. I suppose the converse is true too. That's our line of thinking anyway.

[susanbb]

My ex-batts have been much quieter than my other 2. the good thing was that I can close the door at night and they come out in the morning when I let them out, thus no unwanted early morning alarm calls.

[Tombull10]

We won't always be around to open and close the eglu so some nights it will need to be left open. Do you think this might result in early morning wake up calls for our neighbours even with the quieter ex-batts??

[Egluntyne]

Impossible to say for definite. Mine don't make a noise first thing....unless a fox is about and then they bok bok a bit.

 

Otherwise they are quiet, and I leave the Cube and Eglu doors open.

[Redwing]

Unfortunately its the luck of the draw with the noise, three of mine are very quiet but the forth one is a shouter! my Eglu is by the back door but I cannot hear the noisy hen from inside the house. If I was in the back garden I would obviously hear the noise so I am planning to move the run further back in the garden so that the neighrbours can have a peaceful BBQ in the summer!

 

I wouldnt worry too much about the chance of noise after all there is normally a house in every road where the dog barks like mad and a chicken is waaaaaay quieter than a barking dog

 

As for the smell I have had my chickens for about 10 weeks through torrential downpours and I cant smell anything unless I am collecting eggs and have the side door off the Eglu and then I get a farmy whiff! I guess in the summer it will be worse but if you look after the house and run and clean regularly it should be ok

 

A cover over the run helps to keep things dry which helps with the small and garlic in the chicken food helps the poo smell less (strangely!)

 

Good luck making your choices, don't let the possibility of what COULD go wrong put you off - keeping chickens is great fun

[welsh sarah]

hi

if you have reasonable/normal neighbours then there shouldnt be a problem, you can always bribe them with eggs of course

 

get some chickens you will love them, i agonised for months then took the plunge promising myself i would not want anymore than 2 ever and now i have 6

 

good luck

sarah

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I think we've all worried about this before taking the chicken plunge .

 

As others have said, a simple cleaning routine keeps smells at bay. Keep your run covered so it doesn't get soggy and muddy. Give the hens garlic powder to keep the poo from smelling and bokashi bran to firm up their poos. You can use Stalosan F and garden lime in the run which help keeps things fresh.

 

I live in a residential area with neighbours only a driveway's width away. They have never complained about noise (mine occasionally squawk but nothing drastic) and there is no smell for them to complain about!

[madchickenlady]

Chooks aren't stinky if you keep their coop/run clean As for the noise...well, most people like the sound of clucking hens, and it certainly beats the sound of my neighbour but one's dog yapping it's head off morning 'til night I find that my hens only gently cluck the majority of the time, with the odd bout of bok-bokking if they percieve a threat. I have heard some people say that their girls are noisy when they lay eggs, but my lazy free loaders haven't graced me with any yet!

[susanbb]

Please get your chooks. You will love them

[Larkspurs]

Some excellent tips here!

 

Newbie questions alert!

 

Garlic powder has been mentioned, how much should you give them?

Edit: oops never mind, I found the info here:

Omlet Shop

 

Also, Stalosan F and garden lime was mentioned, I googled Stalosan F and see that it should be sprinkled liberally on the run. I know this sounds like a silly question but would they eat this by accident and is it harmless to the birds? I'm guessing it's totally harmless but is there anything to watch out for or am I just showing off my inexperience here?

[Egluntyne]

Ask away... we were all beginners once.

 

I sprinkle Stalosan F about like a thing possessed and my hens don't seem to have come to any harm. The recommendation is 50g (roughly a handful) per sq metre . Don't mix it with other antibacterials etc.

 

**Look here**

 

The CEO looks like a cross between Captain Kirk and Mr Spock. Very disconcerting.

 

Also found this on 'tinterweb.

 

Stalosan F is.....

 

Effective control of:

Bacteria

Fungi

Viruses

Parasites

Ammonia

Moisture

 

 

Stalosan F 's many advantages

 

Stalosan F creates optimal sanitary conditions in animal housing. The health and welfare condition of the animals improves, and the feed benefit optimises. It is very important that a healthy animal environment is secured by regular use of Stalosan F.

 

Stalosan F has a long term effect, is broad spectrum and over time lowers the occurrence of infections. It eliminates the growth of bacteria, fungi, viruses, fly larvae, coccidia and intestinal roundworms.

 

Stalosan F removes the toxic and bad smelling ammonia and hydrogen sulphide gases that attack the mucous membranes and reduce the animals immunity towards infections.

 

Stalosan F can always be cued with advantage, when the animals are under stress situations like high stocking, high performance, changing of feed and relocation or disease.

 

Stalosan F keeps the hooves and feet of the animal dry. Stalosan F keeps the stable & animal housing floor dry, often reducing the quantity of bedding required.

 

Stalosan F is easy to use, the animals do not have to be moved during application.

 

Stalosan F is neutral towards animals and human beings. Stalosan F can be used for all animals, wherever they are.

 

Stalosan F is economical to use. Small dosage, only 50g/m2 for 3 days, then once a week. Where problems exist, Stalosan F can be used more often.

 

Stalosan F is suitable for laying hens, broilers, turkeys and pheasants. The Stalosan F is spread all over the existing bedding in the animal housing, and onto wet or damp areas. When new chicks or hens are entering, spread Stalosan F all over before placement. Stalosan F is effective against the micro organisms that cause high mortality like coccidiosis and viral infections. Stalosan F is also effective at reducing ammonia levels and fly larvae.

 

I love the term "can always be cued with advantage". :D

 

In a nutshell...it is fab stuff. Delivery charges can be a bit . If you can find a local retailer, you will save a fortune.

Edited December 27, 2008 by Guest

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Perfectly sensible question! It's totally safe and it's such a fine powder they wouldn't bother trying to eat it anyway. I sprinkle it (and garden lime) down liberally after raking out my run, then put new Easibed on top.

 

Don't be put off too much by the high price (with P&P). It's a huge box and will last years - you could maybe even share it with others. I think Alphahatch has one of the best prices but you may want to shop around. I think it's quite difficult to find in a "real" shop.

 

Here's what their website says:

Unique broad spectrum powdered disinfectant. Anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal. Destroys coccidialoo cysts, parasites, worm and fly eggs and larvae. Removes ammonia and hydrogen sulphide and dries out moisture. Non-toxic and suitable for use with all livestock. Apply to litter, bedding areas and around feeders / drinkers. Very effective for prevention of coccidiosis.

8Kg tub.

[Rona]

I get on very well with my neighbours but when I said I was getting chickens, one of them said "Oh no! they will attract rats". So I assured her that it was their food the rats were after and if they were kept clean it wouldn't be a problem and that I had bought the eglu especially to protect them from vermin such as rats and foxes.

 

I then made a big show of getting very paranoid about anything that might attract rats into the area that would then attack my girls and pointed out that any bread and potatoes she threw onto her lawn for the birds would attract rats during the night if she didn't clear up anything the birds left at the end of the day.

 

Fortunately, she is a lovely person and was very apologetic and was quite shocked to think that she might be attracting rats herself. It does mean however that if a rat is spotted in the vicinity, it won't automatically be blamed on the girls.

[Trish]

can I also add that it's a good idea to occasionally take any close neighbours a box of lovely fresh eggs. once they've accepted a gift they are far more likely to understand what you are doing and be supportive and understanding. We've had our ladies years now and never had any complaints,good husbandry and the odd "bribe" seem to keep the way smooth. Hope it all works out for you.

[Plum]

Also, Stalosan F and garden lime was mentioned, I googled Stalosan F and see that it should be sprinkled liberally on the run. I know this sounds like a silly question but would they eat this by accident and is it harmless to the birds? I'm guessing it's totally harmless but is there anything to watch out for or am I just showing off my inexperience here?

 

I got mine from www.purelypoultry.co.uk she lives in Heanor so was able to pick it up and save postage. I dont know if that is far from you.

Its good stuff and the run has seemed drier and fresher since I've been using it.

[Larkspurs]

You are right, it's only 20 mins away so thank you.

[Guest]

I had never seen rats/mice - but put down bait and it went - so they must be about. Be vigilant and keep up your cleaning regime and you should be fine!!!

 

I too recommend Stalosan - try a horsey type shop - they should sell it!

 

Louise

[tara]

Louise can l ask if you are using it where do you get your as l live in strood and could drive to get it rather then paying postage.