Don’t Fowl Out: The Problematic Trend of Troy Tenants Keeping Chickens

According to the US Department of Agriculture, nearly 13 million Americans own or plan to own chickens in the next 5 years. Although based on the same data, those with larger areas of land are most often the ones who own chickens than those who are in an urban or suburban setting. However, there is an upward surge of numbers of those city dwellers owning chickens, and as a result, Troy rental homeowners may experience an increase in the number of requests from residents wanting to keep chickens on their properties. Take note of the essential facts as to why chickens are so popular now before giving them your approval or forbidding them to do so. There are plenty of advantages as well as drawbacks to keeping poultry in a residential setting.

As rural homeowners can confirm, there are actual advantages to keeping chickens on a property. Chickens eat bugs, which significantly diminishes the number of pests round a home. They also provide fresh eggs and will abundantly fertilize lawns and other green spaces.

It is worth noting though that chickens are infamous for their mess; they tend to leave their droppings all over the place. They also frequently roost on patio furniture, leaving a hard-to-clean mess behind. Chickens are also a bit stinky, often producing unpleasant odors that neighbors may not appreciate. Those fresh eggs they lay are not only attractive 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 considerably loud, and not just the roosters. Hens produce a wide array of sounds at all hours, which your next-door-neighbors may find bothersome. Chickens also tend to peck at wood, which can create notable damage over time.

Given the problems that come with keeping chickens, the disadvantages surely exceed any potential benefits. For Troy property owners, this means that the choice to prohibit chickens may be an easy one. A bigger 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 Silverstone conducts consistent property evaluations, checking for resident compliance with animal policies as well as the property’s condition. We make it our business to protect the value and health 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 586-992-6419 today!