Chicken ranches (Lewes, Millsboro, Milton: houses, buy, living)

[chenangosun]

My wife and I are considering a move to the Lewes area in Delaware. She read a post somewhere that there is an unpleasant odor associated with the chickens. As we lived in a town with a dogfood factory that gave off smells that we did not appreciate, we would like to know if the area smells of anything unpleasant.:

[notrhj]

Smell-a-ware

[pete lynch]

Just if you are near a chicken farm. And that is not all the time.

[gemstone1]

CAFO's (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) in Delmarva. It looks like Lewes may be in a flood plain, so perhaps CAFO's are not an issue....however that has not stopped CAFO's in NC from locating within flood plains.

Regards
Gemstone1

[Pine to Vine]

I love the idea of chicken ranches.

[5ft2eyesofblue]

My ex-husband and I lived on 2 acres in Sussex County that had 10 chicken houses within a mile of us. They only time we could smell it was when it was being cleaned out or chickens were being moved. Of course, I've lived in Sussex County so I may be immune to the smell.

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by 5ft2eyesofblue

My ex-husband and I lived on 2 acres in Sussex County that had 10 chicken houses within a mile of us. They only time we could smell it was when it was being cleaned out or chickens were being moved. Of course, I've lived in Sussex County so I may be immune to the smell.

Best Answers^ From eyesofblue and Pete!
(People who live here and have local knowledge)

[jim man]

Chenangosun- don't touch this one, as I was told, chicken farms make some in DE a living. Your lucky you only have to live with the smell, DE has a lot of old wooden chicken barns, that are run down and an eyesore. But in about 1000 years it will be part of the earth. But please Chen do not disagree with anyone on this post, you will be scolded, some here live for this form. This form is for nothing negative, theres no issues in DE. Smell what smell!!!

[lyndyb]

Originally Posted by chenangosun

My wife and I are considering a move to the Lewes area in Delaware. She read a post somewhere that there is an unpleasant odor associated with the chickens. As we lived in a town with a dogfood factory that gave off smells that we did not appreciate, we would like to know if the area smells of anything unpleasant.:

Very smart of you to do some research and ask questions before you buy. A lot man depend on where in Lewes or the surrounding areas you buy. If your current proximity allows, I would suggest before you buy/build a house in a specific area, you spend time driving to see what surrounds it, as best you can. We looked at one development in Milton and ruled it out because you passed an old chicken farm - not sure if it's still in use or not, to be honest, on the way to the development. I have a lot of respect for the chicken industry, but don't particularly want to live next door to chicken houses - or ones coming down.


MountAire (Chicken) Farms has a large facility in Millsboro, and there are times there is a little bit of an odor but I'm not sure if it's from the chickens, the processing or the feed, etc. https://mountaire.com/


I'm a newcomer that lives in Lewes a new development not far from Route 24 - and close to where Millsboro begins and we've never smelled any chicken farms.


Much of the property being built on was agricultural and farming before it was bought by the developers or builders, so I would recommend taking the time to check out the area before you buy so you don't wind up making discoveries once you live here that you're unhappy with. Don't hesitate to ask any questions that you might have - there are some great people on this forum that are happy to answer questions if they know the answer.


Good luck!!

[nuts2uiam]

I live in Rehoboth, but not in the city of Rehoboth. I am a tiny bit under two miles from the water and when it is very foggy on certain days, I can smell the salt water. I never smell chicken farms. Now as I get closer to Millsboro's MountAir property depending upon the weather, there can be an odor.

That aside, you are making one of the larger dollar wise decisions of your life, you need to visit at different times of the year and do your homework. Please understand I am not being snarky just trying to make a point. I use one brand of perfume that I love and to my nose it is a very pleasant scent that is light. To others it is too sweet. No-one knows how you react to smells. Same thing, I find the smell of a mushroom farm revolting and to others it's ok.