Home insurance dropped because of chickens

[OkieRoost]

I wasn't sure which forum to post this in so I hope this one is ok. We recently found out it would be more affordable to switch our home insurance over to the same company as our vehicle insurance, so our other insurer was dropped when we switched. Well the roof inspector came over, and a week or two later we got a letter in the mail that said they would not be able to cover us because we have more than two livestock. Now we have to find a new insurer by January 21st. Does anyone know which company's will allow backyard chickens?

 

[TallChickMagnet]

I misread this at first. I thought that you meant dropped in price. This is something to really think about. :/

 

[Mtn Laurel]

You don't say where you live and that makes a big difference. Many states have a "Farm Bureau Insurance" company and they're usually more chicken friendly. If your state has one, give them a call.

 

[StruckBy]

Foremost insurance covers livestock of all types with a 'hobby farm' designation (extra $35 per year). They also don't care what breed of dog you have as long as it doesn't have a bite history. They didn't blink an eye over my 160lb Rottweiler or 70 lb German shepherd. The only thing is that I'm not sure if they cover regular houses...I've had one manufactured home and one house that is 1/2 mobile home, 1/2 stick-built addition. I would definitely recommend them thought. Hands-down the best insurance company I've ever dealt with when I did have a claim.

 

[BCMaraniac]

You don't say where you live and that makes a big difference. Many states have a "Farm Bureau Insurance" company and they're usually more chicken friendly. If your state has one, give them a call.

Farm Bureau Insurance is what we have, and we are very satisfied with it. A tornado hit here in April, 2011, and Farm Bureau came out, looked, and started writing check to their customers. Thankfully we were not affected, but there were fatalities.

There is also Farmers' Insurance, but I don't know anything about them.

 

[blucoondawg]

Farmers insurance has very good policies where coverage is concerned however a few years ago their premiums skyrocketed in our area, everyone I know who had them dropped them, including myself and my parents. We live in a very rural area, just over 30 minute drive to the nearest city with a paid 24 hour fire dept, this is their reasoning behind their high premiums, the volunteer fire dept we have here 5 miles down the road doesn't matter to them, so apparently Farmer's insurance is only interested in insuring folks who live in cities, sort of an oxymoron I think.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Insurance prices are determined by risk. Lower the risk, lower the rate; raise the risk, the rates go up. On-duty fire departments are more likely to react more rapidly than one that has to be called in, therefore, less damage is likely to occur, so yes, places with nearby on-duty fire departments will have better rates than places farther out or with volunteer departments. You could reduce rates by installing fire sprinklers, etc. Ask the insurance company what things you can do that will lower your rates.

 

[blucoondawg]

Insurance prices are determined by risk. Lower the risk, lower the rate; raise the risk, the rates go up. On-duty fire departments are more likely to react more rapidly than one that has to be called in, therefore, less damage is likely to occur, so yes, places with nearby on-duty fire departments will have better rates than places farther out or with volunteer departments. You could reduce rates by installing fire sprinklers, etc. Ask the insurance company what things you can do that will lower your rates.

I am very aware of how insurance companies work, I also know how to lower my rates, get a different insurance company, that is what I did. Funny the rest of the companies don't charge horrendous rates for the very same property in the very same location. I just find it funny a company calls themselves Farmers, which to me tells me they have a interest in dealing with rural properties and farms, when they obviously are only interested in dealing with properties in urban or suburban areas. Staffed fire departments are not common in rural areas in Wisconsin.

 

[BCMaraniac]

Foremost insurance covers livestock of all types with a 'hobby farm' designation (extra $35 per year). They also don't care what breed of dog you have as long as it doesn't have a bite history. They didn't blink an eye over my 160lb Rottweiler or 70 lb German shepherd. The only thing is that I'm not sure if they cover regular houses...I've had one manufactured home and one house that is 1/2 mobile home, 1/2 stick-built addition. I would definitely recommend them thought. Hands-down the best insurance company I've ever dealt with when I did have a claim.

They do cover stick-built houses. Foremost is my FIL's insurance carrier. I believe they are somehow affiliated with Farmers' Insurance. There was something about his house that didn't meet their criteria, so they wrote him a policy with Foremost, which at the time I wondered was considered a higher risk pool, but I do not know that for sure. His premium was a little bit higher than Farmer's, but I don't know how they are interms of paying out a claim, because he hasn't had one, thankfully.