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Comment by clumsysmurf | Hacker News Reader

If you want to raise backyard chicks, double check your local chicken ordinances! Unfortunately, even when they are allowed, it can be the source of tension between neighbors:

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/nov/27/nation/la-na-nn-back...

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In the UK, the 1950 Allotments Act trumps all other covenants and local ordinances, provided you're only keeping hens and they are not a nuisance (and despite the name, the Act in this instance applies to keeping hens anywhere).

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo6/14/31

Could you just confirm that for me - a deed of covenant is unable to restrict the keeping of hens in UK law?

I ask because I'm pretty sure out deed of covenant says 'no chickens'. It might also be 'no sheep'. Don't suppose the Allotments Act covers sheep though.

Well you can read the Act, it's quite short and written in reasonably plain English.

The relevant section is S12.1 (S12.2 has been repealed). It only applies to hens (female chickens) and rabbits, not to any other species. It appears to supersede any covenants. As far as I know this aspect of the Act has never been tested in court.

We have 6 in our backyard and you hardly notice them. They are generally very quiet. The only times ours makes noise is if one chases another.

The birds in the tree make a lot more noise.

I find the same thing. My neighbors and I have chickens on ~5000 sq ft fenced lots and you barely notice them, especially when compared with the local bird and insect population. My neighbor has a rooster and even that isn't a large bother.

Ours only make noise when they are laying eggs. We have 4 in our pretty small yard and ours make quite a lot of noise when they are laying, but that only lasts a few minutes usually.

But once you do check them, I recommend trying it. Raising chickens can be rewarding.

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