I am not trying to take sides. My opinion is the same for both: "Talk to your neighbors and find a solution that makes everyone happy." I have never had a neighbor dispute that couldn't be solved with kindness.
Yes exactly there are some people who will complain no matter what the rules are. My point is that it is more important to have a good relationship with your neighbors. Sounds like you are not able to have a good relationship with your neighbor even if you follow the rules so :idunno.
OP said they have had a great relationship with their neighbors for 20 years. It doesn't sound like they are demanding their neighbors to be chicken fans. They just want to have 4 hens. You're projecting your lived experience onto someone else who is in a totally different situation.
No offense but if you think ridicule or physical violence are the only way to deal with an angry neighbor, you should probably stick to following the rules.
Laughing at your neighbor probably isn't helping. That is the kind of thing that makes people mad and frustrated and talk to city council about making new ordinances.
Have you tried talking to her? Maybe ask her if there are certain hours that won't bother her as much? I think many of this year's problems are caused by people who call the cops for things that can be solved by talking to their neighbors.
The purpose of "ordinances" is to help neighbors get along more easily... If you can find a win-win situation with your neighbors then great. You don't have to be a sheep and follow rules for the sake of following rules.
I wasn't allowed to have "livestock" in my old neighborhood. I gave my neighbors free eggs now and then, and no one ever complained. I actually bought the eggs from the supermarket and repackaged them, because I only had 6 hens and they were not laying that many eggs.