Are chickens/hens pets?

We are a community of about 100 homes outside city limits. Our covenants are fairly simple. They state no animals allowed, except for pets. We have someone with a pet duck, and someone with a few hens. There have been no complaints. I am inclined to consider these pets. Anyone have experience with this?

According to our local paper, backyard chickens are increasingly popular with people interested in green/sustainable living. I'm not sure what to think, but I guess I'm willing to let this play out. Just curious if anyone has encountered this.

So michele, your codes prohibit children? I wanna live in your HOA. that would be heaven...

(at least, last i checked my biology degree, kids are members of the Animal kingdom, chordata phyla, mammalia class, primate order, etc. Very definitely animals, by all definitions of an animal.)

I think I'm catching on to your game.

I'll opt not to play, thanks.

Kristen:

I would say that is your documents are that vague you have to allow them...I could have a cow, horse and an elephant in my yard and say they are pets and there would be nothing you could do about it...unless you have information that they are raising these animals to see or slaughter there isn't much IMO you can do.

I have requested to have back yard chickens...and the fun begins.

The covenant states "No domesticated or wild animal shall be kept or maintained on any lot, except for common houshold pets such as dogs and cats wich may be kept or maintained,"

This is the part that the board is debating. At least they are discussing it. Some are even supportive and would like to have chickens as well. If they are willing, can't they amend this as it is a covenant?

BTW ... I understand the fun as my city recently passed ordinance allowing chickens ... LOL

To chicken or not to chicken, that iz a question!

> Where is the line drawn?

With chickens on the other side.

> I would say that is your documents are that vague you have to allow them...

No. If the documents are vague the BOD is in charge of interpreting them. You only HAVE to allow something that is explicitly in the CC&Rs.

You have to follow your city's or county's ordinances on the allowances of farm animals or animal controls. Chickens, ducks, or livestock may fall under non-pet rules according those laws and thus can not supercede the HOA's documents. I've lived on a farm. Chickens can be like pets to you. However, part of being in the city is that they are not considered pets but more of a nuisance. It's really in the proximity of your closest neighbor that seems to determine that...LOL..

Side note: My renter moved in a baby Emu into my back yard without my knowledge or permission. Apparently our lawncare people knew about it and had stopped mowing my back yard. I came to inspect my house and opened the gate to the back yard...A 3 FOOT high Emu came charging at me!!! So NO I kind of don't think that Emu's or some wild birds are HOA pet friendly material...LOL!

I agree. I can see the headaches, arguements, legal action, etc.

I say do not allow it.

This might be more of a philosophical question but if it's OK for one neighbor to raise chickens is it OK for another to raise Chicken Hawks?

the problem with the covenant as written (and with many) are the definitions and vagueness of the terms:

Animal. Wild. Domesticated. Common. Pet.

Animal is pretty well defined. However, the sad thing is, the best defined word in the bunch is the one the HOA's are least interested in actually enforcing.

Wild (animal) and Domesticated (animal)... semi-defined, we know that bears are wild, and dogs are domesticated. But, what about Cats? Science is somewhat heavy on the domesticated side, but there is evidence that technically, many of the breeds are not yet 'evolutionarily' domesticated. Then, toss in that Chickens and Cows ARE domesticated (per science), while Parrots and Finches are NOT. So, I can have a dog, a cow, and a chicken, but not necessarily a cat, and definitely not a parrot or finch.

Common... Common where? In the HOA? In the county? in the state? in the US? In the world? What's common in this area may be uncommon in that one. Where I live, horses are domesticated animals kept as pets. Pretty common, actually. Want a horse in your neighbor's backyard?

Pet: Good luck with this one. The best definition I have seen of a pet is "a non-human animal kept for non-commercial purposes, which is reliant upon human intervention to stay healthy", and yet, this actually still causes problems, because of the "intent" portion. I can have a chicken if I don't want/care about eggs? Roosters are okay, but chickens are commercial? If I breed my dog for puppies, that's not a pet? What about my white mice I keep for my snake?

My grandfather said "it ain't a pet if you gonna eat it later", but that's not really a good one either... I know people that have raised cattle as pets, sheep too.

And what about fish? Definitely wild, non-domesticated. But fairly common, most species. Can I have beta's in my house, because they are common, but not a shark, because it isn't?

Yes, and I have seen pigs, chickens, alligators, horses, boa constrictors, and cows for sale at pet stores too.

The question would then become, does the definition of "pet" become "Anything you can buy with money at a store."?