According to the US Department of Agriculture, nearly 13 million Americans own or plan to own chickens in the next 5 years. Even though the usual owners of chickens are those with larger plots of land as compared to those living in urban or suburban settings, the trend of city dwellers owning chickens is on the rise. As a result, Arlington rental homeowners may experience an increase in the number of requests from residents wanting to keep chickens on their properties. But before giving them a reply, it’s important to recognize why chickens are so widespread right now, and the probable downsides that keeping poultry in a residential setting may bring.
As rural homeowners can confirm, there are actual benefits to keeping chickens on a property. Chickens eat bugs, which significantly lessens the number of pests around a home. They also provide fresh eggs and will abundantly fertilize lawns and other green spaces.
Alternatively, chickens are infamous for making a mess, leaving their droppings all over the place. They love to roost on patio furniture, leaving a hard-to-clean mess behind. Chickens can also smell awful, generating foul odors that neighbors may notice. Those fresh eggs they lay are not only appealing to people, 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 relatively loud, and not only the roosters. Hens make a wide range of sounds all the time, which neighbors may find exasperating. Chickens also have a habit of pecking at wood, which can result in substantial damage over time.
With all of the problems that come with keeping chickens, the negatives unquestionably outweigh any potential advantages. For Arlington property owners, this means that the choice to forbid chickens may be very simple. 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 Meridian conducts regular property evaluations, monitoring for resident compliance with animal policies as well as the property’s condition. We make it our business to protect the value and status of your rental homes and take care of resident communications on your behalf. To learn more about what we have to offer, please contact us online or by phone at 954-362-5235 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.
