Six hens, one backyard, and a simple rule change.
Our Declaration prohibits chickens on every lot. This proposal would let owners who want them keep up to six hens, with no roosters, kept clean and out of sight. Owners who don't want hens wouldn't notice a thing.
The proposal in a few minutes
The proposed rule
This would amend the chicken prohibition in the Declaration (Article VI, Section 9) to allow a small number of hens under these conditions. Its terms track the six-hen bill Texas lawmakers considered in 2025.
- Six hens at most on any lot.
- No roosters. No crowing, ever.
- Personal use only. No breeding for sale, no commercial egg sales, no slaughter on the lot.
- Always enclosed. A covered coop and run, or inside the fenced backyard. The coop can't be visible from the street.
- Set back from neighbors. At least 25 feet from any lot line and 50 feet from any neighboring house.
- Kept clean. Feed in sealed containers, the coop cleaned regularly, and no odor, pests, or noise that would be a nuisance.
- Registered. Owners tell the HOA in writing before keeping hens and how many.
- The owner is responsible. Any damage the hens cause is on the owner, not the HOA or neighbors.
- Privilege can be revoked. After notice and a hearing, the board can revoke permission for a lot with two uncured violations in a year.
- Follow the law. Owners comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
Why a few hens make sense here
Our lots are big. Brazoswood homes sit on lots that average about 1.7 acres. Six hens in a fenced backyard take up less space than a garden shed.
Fresh eggs and less waste. Hens turn kitchen scraps into eggs and their bedding into compost for the garden.
Fewer bugs. Hens eat insects and grubs in the yard where they're kept.
A good lesson for kids. Daily chores, responsibility, and a real connection to where food comes from.
Nearby neighborhoods already allow it
Glenwood, the subdivision next door, allows backyard hens. It's a close match for ours: same county, same school district, similar acreage, similar homes.
| Brazoswood | Glenwood | |
|---|---|---|
| Homes | 43 | 73 |
| Typical lot | 1.7 acres | 2.0 acres |
| School district | Lamar CISD | Lamar CISD |
| Backyard hens | Not allowed | Allowed |
Home counts and median lot sizes from HAR.com neighborhood data.
Fair questions, straight answers
Will it be noisy?
Roosters crow; hens don't. The rule bans roosters outright. Hens make short clucks during the day, and the 50-foot setback keeps the coop well away from any neighbor's house.
Will it smell or attract pests?
Six hens produce very little waste, and the rule requires a regularly cleaned coop and feed stored in sealed containers. A coop that smells or draws pests is a violation, and repeat violations cost the owner the privilege.
What about property values?
Glenwood allows hens and its homes are valued at or above ours. The rule keeps coops out of street view, so the neighborhood looks the same from the road.
What if a neighbor doesn't follow the rules?
The HOA keeps its full enforcement power under the Declaration, and the board can revoke the privilege for a lot after two uncured violations in a year. Hens become a privilege with conditions, not a free-for-all.
What if a hen gets out?
Hens must stay enclosed or inside the fenced backyard. The owner is responsible for any damage a hen causes. Nobody else is.
Does this mean everyone will get chickens?
No. It only allows owners who want hens to keep a few, within the rules. Nothing changes for anyone who doesn't.
Doesn't Texas law already allow chickens?
Not in an HOA with a ban. In 2025 the Texas House voted 140 to 1 for a bill limiting HOA chicken bans, but it stalled in a Senate committee. The Legislature meets again in January 2027. Until then, the change has to come from us, the owners.
Sign the petition
To the Board of Directors of the Estates of Brazoswood Homeowners Association:
We, the undersigned owners and residents of Estates of Brazoswood, respectfully ask the Board to put to a vote of the owners an amendment to Article VI, Section 9 of the Declaration allowing up to six hens per lot under the conditions published at brazoswoodhens.com.
This petition shows support and asks for a vote. It is not itself a ballot. Any amendment would be voted on under the HOA's Declaration, Bylaws, and Texas Property Code §209.0041.
Thank you for signing.
Your signature is recorded. It will be checked against the property records, and you'll hear when the board responds. If a neighbor asks about it, send them here.
About signing
Is this the official vote?
No. It shows the board how many owners support the change and asks for an owner vote on the amendment. The official vote follows the HOA's own process, by ballot.
Who counts?
Changing the Declaration takes 67% of all lots, which works out to about 29 to 32 lots here, so owners' signatures are what count toward that goal. Residents who don't own their home can sign to show support; they're counted separately.
Why do you need my phone and email?
To confirm each signature belongs to a real owner, and to reach you when the vote is scheduled. Only the petition organizers see them.
Is an electronic signature valid?
Yes. Texas law recognizes electronic signatures when people agree to sign electronically, which is what the checkbox above records. The date and time you signed are kept too.