According to the US Department of Agriculture, nearly 13 million Americans own or plan to own chickens in the next 5 years. Although those who have larger plots of land that are the typical people that would owning chickens compared to those in urban or suburban settings, the number of city dwellers owning chickens is growing. As a result, Mobile rental homeowners may experience an increase in the number of requests from residents wanting to keep chickens on their properties. However, prior to responding to their demands, it’s important to recognize why chickens are so popular right now and the possible drawbacks that keeping poultry in a residential setting may bring.
As rural homeowners can prove, there are actual advantages to keeping chickens on a property. Chickens eat bugs, which dramatically decreases the number of pests around a home. They also provide fresh eggs and will abundantly fertilize lawns and other green spaces.
Then again, chickens have a reputation for being messy, leaving their droppings all over the place. They tend to roost on patio furniture, leaving a hard-to-clean mess behind. Chickens can also create a foul odor, creating repulsive smells that neighbors may notice. Those fresh eggs they lay are not only enticing to humans, but to snakes, skunks, raccoons, and other pesky critters.
A few other drawbacks to keeping chickens include noise concerns and potential damage to exterior features made of wood. Chickens can be pretty loud, and not just the roosters. Hens produce a wide range of sounds at all hours, which neighbors may find disturbing. Chickens also tend to peck at wooden items, which can create notable damage over time.
Given the problems that come with keeping chickens, the disadvantages clearly overshadow any possible positives. For Mobile property owners, this means that the decision to ban chickens may be an easy one. A more significant challenge, however, is making sure that residents do not bring unauthorized animals onto the property and local statutes that may prohibit keeping “farm animals” within city limits.
Real Property Management Azalea City conducts regular property evaluations, monitoring for resident obedience with animal policies as well as the property’s state. We make it our business to defend the worth and state of your rental homes and handle resident communications on your behalf. To learn more about what we have to offer, please contact us online or by phone at 251-345-6224 today!
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
