I live in a small rural E. OR town. I have a fenced backyard and had 7 hens. THey are great pets and fairly quiet. The neighbors actually liked them. Unless you cage/pen them well they will roam everywhere though.

Mine figured out how to climb, and roost, in a forty foot cedar tree. They would then jump/fly over the fence and ended, as a group, in neighbors yards, in the street, etc. You could herd them back easily enough but I finally gave them to a hispanic family for one of their fiesta party things.

The hens were just starting to regularly lay eggs too. Next year I wil get some but they will be in a fully enclosed 200 square foot pen on 24 hour lockdown. :) Then put out (eggs) or face the BBQ!