Does anyone have experience getting a zoning variance to keep poultry in an older residential neighborhood? Each community will approach it differently, I suppose, but there must be a bunch of us in small turn-of-the-centry villages within commuting distance of major metropolitan areas. I'm told the whole neighborhood used to be one big victory garden, but now we're just residential in the midst of the weekenders.

I'd like to keep four or five hens housed in my vegetable garden and would appreciate hearing from anyone who's crossed that bridge before.

Rob
Millbrook, NY

I live in a large town outside of the city of Boston. I want some hens myself. The animal control officer told me I could have hens (absolutely no roosters) if I had every neighbor that abuts my property sign. I never bothered to get the form because I had a pissing contest with one of my neighbors. I'm hoping I outlive her

Rob on defense of the chickens they are great bug eaters especially ticks bring that one up when you talk to the officials .My girlfriend lives in a small town and they raise chickens,turkeys and ducks and yes they do have a rooster! No one complains because it is nice having someone next to you with a ready supply of eggs for baking emergencies.I too have chikens and up to last week we had 15 roosters try that for a.m noise!!We live in a semi-rural area surrounded by mcmansion subdivisions being that I am zoned agriculture(a-1)I would like for them to complain because I have many ways of getting even ,the noise and smell dont bother me!!maybe instead of 20 hogs I will get 40 next year????