Do Nosy Neighbours Count As Pests?

Zeil

Chirping
Jun 29, 2015
180
18
51
Brisbane QLD
We live in a residential area and only have a three foot fence on all sides of the back of our property. Most of the houses on our street do and it hasn't really ever bothered us before as it seems (as everyone is in the same boat) that it's a silent mutual agreement among the street that people give everyone as much privacy in their backyards as possible, I don't sit on my back veranda and stare at my neighbour too right whilst he's in his garage fixing his car and swearing and he doesn't watch me still assembling our permanent chicken coop and swearing.

It's just polite. As I said it's sort of a rule around here...

However the neighbours directly behind us...

Honestly I didn't see much of them before we got the chickens. He'd be out once or twice a week to mow and prune their fruit trees and she's be out with their tissue box cover once a day so it could do its business.

The last two weeks though, as our chickens have been out in their temporary run, I've seen them several times standing right at out back fence staring into our yard, as their dog barks at the chickens and tries to dig under said fence.

They never come out when I'm out in the yard and the one time I went out he (out alone with the dog) quickly picked it up and went back inside.

My wife calls it paranoia, but after seeing them photographing our yard this evening I smell trouble. My wife thus far tells me their probably looking at putting in a bigger fence, or extending their shed and in fairness they could be, but I think not... I've had exactly one conversation with the guy which was the first day our chicks ever went out in the yard. His dog bounded down to the fence and started barking and after following her down he looked at me and the chickens and without so much as a 'hi how y doing' went 'yeah she won't stop barking if those things are left out here' a bit taken aback I sort of awkwardly laughed a bit a went 'oh, she probably won't even notice them in a while'. Without another word he turned and walked away...

Frankly I think it would be less awkward if he came to me and complained as I can't exactly do anything for two people whom refuse to talk to me.

Not even tell them to shove off.
 
Hi Zeil, your three foot fence will definitely be inadequate, either to keep out predators ( In addition to the neighbor's dog!) or to confine your birds. The neighbor doesn't sound friendly, but that's almost a side issue here. If you can legally have chickens in your neighborhood, that's a very good thing. Your coop and run need to be predator proof no matter what anyway. Then either keep them in it all the time, or double the height of your fence, and make sure nobody can dig in either. If you can legally use electric fencing, it will be much easier and less expensive too. Check out premier1supplies.com for electric. Mary
 
Hi Zeil,  your three foot fence will definitely be inadequate, either to keep out predators  ( In addition to the neighbor's dog!)  or to confine your birds.  The neighbor doesn't sound friendly, but that's almost a side issue here.  If you can legally have chickens in your neighborhood,  that's a very good thing.  Your coop and run need to be predator proof no matter what anyway.  Then either keep them in it all the time, or double the height of your fence, and make sure nobody can dig in either.  If you can legally use electric fencing, it will be much easier and less expensive too.  Check out premier1supplies.com for electric.  Mary


Hi Folly,

I'm not really concerned about the neighbours or the fence or the dog.

I've also been informed by my lovely wife that our fences are five foot... I thought maybe four on a couple to the front but I've been informed they are all 5, must measure at some point I suppose... Anyway...

We can have chickens and they do not free range, even their temp run is predator proof and we don't have much in the way of dog around us, except the back neighbours and its tiny, it couldn't get over the fence, it could maybe get under it but it's never out long enough.

Frankly them watching me is only creeping me out.
 
Last edited:
I don’t know of anything you can do legally other than build a higher privacy fence along that side. From what you say they are not doing anything illegal. Sometimes we have to solve our own problems ourselves. To me a privacy fence tall enough for real privacy is the best solution and something you can do yourself to fix the problem.

I was in a somewhat similar situation from a neighbor with an elevated deck. I was able to solve that problem by planting a fairly large fast-growing tree. An entire fence line is probably too long for that solution.
 
I think you should take up photography and shoot photos of their yard. Let them wonder what you are up to. I am concerned about some strange neighbors myself. I think they are taking photos of your yard to show someone. Maybe to complain about your set up . Something tells me their yappy dog will always find something to bark about. It's up to them to teach her "quiet".

Some neighbors not only count as pests, some are even predators that help themselves to eggs and birds, when no one is around. Some also do harm to property and contents.
 
Last edited:
True. Thankfully you can get locks that are openable only with keys for coops and runs.
I also thought when you see them out there you could go out and say nicely, "You look like you have a question. Anything I can help you with? And see what he says.
 
I think you should take up photography and shoot photos of their yard. Let them wonder what you are up to. I am concerned about some strange neighbors myself. I think they are taking photos of your yard to show someone. Maybe to complain about your set up . Something tells me their yappy dog will always find something to bark about. It's up to them to teach her "quiet".

Some neighbors not only count as pests, some are even predators that help themselves to eggs and birds, when no one is around. Some also do harm to property and contents.
I completely agree. My first thought was that they are going to complain about your chickens or coop, even though it sounds like you've done your homework and know that what you're doing is perfectly legal. And yes, neighbors can definitely qualify as pests! As evidence, "She won't stop barking if those things are left out here." As if they are anticipatorily blaming you for the fact that their dog will be a nuisance because it's your chickens "making" the dog bark. I agree that it would be more mature if they have a problem to come right out with it, and then you could tell them to stuff it because you're within your rights to have chickens just like they have a dog. Good luck with the creepy neighbors! I've had my fair share.
 
Yeah, they can be pests ... but trapping season is usually very short, and taking them to the cleaners later is a hassle ... Outright shooting is discouraged in a town setting, as there are noise limit laws ...

All joking aside ...
tongue.png


See what, or if you have any zoning restrictions on fence height ... where I live, we can go 6' without a building permit, and up to 8', with a building permit ... I see you live "down under" the equator ... you may not have such silly laws ...

If it were me ...as soon as I saw them out in there back yard,I would go out, and tell them that you saw them taking pictures of your back yard, but were not able to respond at the time, and want to know what they were taking pictures of on your property? If you miss them, you could always walk around to the front, and ring the doorbell ...

Or you could set up a sprinkler, to water your fence-line ..., turn on when they get too close ...

Trees, can shield, or even tall bushes, most people can not see over a 6' tall barrier, unless they are on higher ground, or on a ladder!
 
Yeah, they can be pests ... but trapping season is usually very short, and taking them to the cleaners later is a hassle ... Outright shooting is discouraged in a town setting, as there are noise limit laws ...

All joking aside ... :p

See what, or if you have any zoning restrictions on fence height ... where I live, we can go 6' without a building permit, and up to 8', with a building permit ... I see you live "down under" the equator ... you may not have such silly laws ...

If it were me ...as soon as I saw them out in there back yard,I would go out, and tell them that you saw them taking pictures of your back yard, but were not able to respond at the time, and want to know what they were taking pictures of on your property? If you miss them, you could always walk around to the front, and ring the doorbell ...

Or you could set up a sprinkler, to water your fence-line ..., turn on when they get too close ...

Trees, can shield, or even tall bushes, most people can not see over a 6' tall barrier, unless they are on higher ground, or on a ladder!
Or as my nosey neighbor did; she had her son-in-law get up on her roof so they could see what we were working on. Then even went so far as to contact the zoning board when we were not doing anything illegal. A board member conveniently called us on a Sunday saying they drove by and happened to noticed we were doing some work on the back garage & to find out what we were working on & if we needed a permit Grrr..... Of course the back building can't be seen from the road. My hubby proceeded to call our neighbor & tell her to mind her own darn business & if she had a concern to ask us first. she backed off after that, but she still watches us with an eagle eye.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom