Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My neighbor has chickens, which i'm fine with, but she has them living under her house. Is this illegal? If it is please respond, we need to help these chickens.

Can you explain what you mean by under her house? Chances are though that it is legal. Though you might want to check your local ordinances and find out if it is legal to have chickens at all in your neighborhood. Some neighborhoods don't allow chickens, and some that do limit the number or allow only hens.

If it's legal for her to have chickens where she lives, the only other way it would be illegal is if she is cruel or neglectful to them. Normally, it is only legally neglect if the animals lack food, water or shelter. It's fairly difficult to prove neglect unless the animals are obviously in bad shape -- i.e. injured and untreated or starving to death. And because chickens are classified as livestock rather than pets, even that may not be enough depending on your local laws.

But, honestly, if their condition isn't that bad, I wouldn't worry about them too much for their own sake. If they're healthy (fully-feathered and active), fed, and their living conditions aren't too filthy, than they're probably happy. You wouldn't believe the conditions the chickens that lay the eggs you buy at grocery stores are kept in -- in contrast, your neighbor's birds are living it up, I'm sure!

It's wonderful that you're concerned. Perhaps a few tactful suggestions on your part would encourage your neighbor to improve their living conditions. You might want to let her know that chickens kept out in the open, with plenty of sunlight and some lawn to forage on, lay more eggs and lay better-tasting eggs. In fact, recent research has shown that eggs laid by "free-range" hens (hens that are allowed to forage in grass) are actually better for you!

Good luck!
- Lara