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Feeling Cooped Up? The Hazards of Keeping Pet Chickens

Brown Chicken in River Park Rental BackyardOne of the more popular trends raising questions for River Park rental property owners is whether or not to allow tenants to keep chickens. Keeping chickens has become a popular activity in recent years, even for urban neighborhoods. While the reasons for this popularity vary, many people do it with ideas about producing their own food or keeping insect populations under control. Both of these reasons are indeed advantages of keeping chickens, but there are many hazards you should know about, too. That way, you can more confidently decide what to say when your tenant asks to keep chickens on your rental property.

Zoning Issues

Not all municipalities are chicken-friendly. Some areas allow residential neighborhoods to keep chickens in their yards, while others do not. It is critical for you as a property owner to be aware of your local ordinances and communicate them clearly to your tenant. Otherwise, they may not consider it vital to follow local laws and keep prohibited animals on the property, thus exposing both of you to the risk of fines and legal troubles.

Property Damage

At a minimum, most chickens will need a clean and secure chicken coop, as well as fencing and a run. If your rental property doesn’t yet have a fence and a coop, your tenant will most likely be required to build one. Although some chicken coops can be very nice, there’s no guarantee that the one your tenant will build will be. Furthermore, if your tenants decide to leave, and even if they take the coop with them, you’ll be left with dead and damaged landscaping where the coop formerly stood.

Biohazard Risk

Another hazard that chickens pose is that chicken droppings are a potential biohazard. Chicken poop is filthy, disgusting, and frequently gets tracked everywhere, including inside the house itself. In addition, chicken droppings can carry diseases that can put the health of you and your tenants at risk.

Attract Rodents and Predators

Rodents and other pests are opportunistic feeders. As a result, they will be attracted to areas where food is convenient and bountiful. Rodents love chicken coops for this reason. Not only will rodents be drawn to the chicken feed, but they may also go for the chicken eggs or even the chickens themselves. This is especially true for wild animals or even domesticated cats and dogs. If an owl, neighborhood stray, or even your neighbor’s beloved pet sneaks into your rental yard, the resulting massacre will not be nice.

Noise Issues

Another disadvantage with keeping chickens is the noise. Chickens can make a lot of noise, even hens. Chickens create a variety of loud sounds that may disturb a nearby neighbor. If your rental property’s yard isn’t huge enough, those loud birds may become a nuisance or, in certain cases, even violate noise ordinances.

Despite a few incidents of tenants successfully keeping chickens, the hazards aren’t worth it for most property owners. Unquestionably, each circumstance and rental property is individual, so making the right choice for you and your tenants is critical.

 

Would you like assistance fielding tenant requests for animals, pets, or other things? Our River Park property managers can help! Contact Real Property Management Platinum for more information on how we help rental property owners like you keep your tenants happy and protect your investment at the same time.

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