Folks who object to chickens in city enviroments are concerned about odor, noise, and what the whole deal will look like. All these factors can add up to one thought in a person's mind-"if there are chickens in my neighbor's backyard, what does that do to the value of my backyard?"
Because so many factors affect property value, and make a prospective buyer decide on one property over another, it is hard to say yes or no. A buyer looking over a backyard fence and seeing a small flock of hens may have a negative reaction, but is equally as likely to have a positive or neutral reaction too. Looking over the fence and seeing a large dog house, a skate board ramp or a swimming pool could all provoke a negative reaction from a buyer.
Chicken owners being good neighbors, and keeping a small flock using the best management practices in an establishment that looks good, will always convey the type of message that a well tended lawn or flower bed will: good people live here.
Pictures often speak louder than words, here's a photo tour of what is possible-examples bad and good!
Now who wouldn't want to look over the fence and see this in their
neighbor's yard? Well I for one would not!! When our friends, neighbors and and city council members think about chickens in a backyard, this is the image that pops into their head. Let's make it clear-W.A.C.K.S. agrees with them-this sort of fast and dirty set up for chickens is not acceptable in our community.
Now this is better-looks like Uptown Westerville, right?
I forget the name of that little enclave around the lake on Schrock Road, the one that looks like it was planted in a grove of California Redwoods, but this is the chicken set up for them.
To the casual observer, a backyard chicken set-up will look like a large dog house, or a kid's playhouse. Look closer and you will find that these structures often get re-purposed to house hens.
This one looks a bit functional, but still proves that a hen owner who cares about their birds and their neighbors can have a backyard that almost no one will object to.
Here's what I am aiming for in my backyard, and the sort of set up that most Westerville neighborhoods can accomodate with no trouble. By my guesstimate, that hen house is about 4'X4' (16 square feet) about right for 3 maybe 4 birds, with enclosed run that's maybe 4'X8'.
Another well tended set up.
This looks snug and cozy, like a house for a garden gnome-or three hens.
Very cute, right?
When time and money are no object, the sky is the limit. This model looks right for the upscale golf course communities.
Gazebos have become a popular backyard feature. This one is shared by people and birds.
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