Bipolar neighbor says she'll call as much as it takes!!

[Cory in MI]

I'm definitely no lawyer here but it seems to me if someone approved chickens next door and waited for the homeowner to spend a significant amount of money on a coupe and supplies and then revoked said approval through complaining that they're have some ground for a small civil suit

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I'd say go 'Dexter' on her.

Out here in ABQ, New Mexico there are no limits on chickens. I think you have to get some sort of permit when you want more than 30 hens. Even still, one particular neighbor brought a fuss to me when I let my girls out to roam and they messed up her precious landscaped front yard. I brought her some eggs and a nice note, promising to clean up. Have had no word from them for weeks, not even a thank you!

I'd advise letting her call the authorities, and acting surprised and showing them her signature. Give the cop some eggs, even if they aren't yours, most folks have no idea what age hens start to lay. Show the cop how cute your girls are. Bribery works wonders!

That you let your birds range into your neighbor's yard where they messed up her landscaping is not nice. I do not blame her for fussing, and you OWED it to her to repair the damage done by YOUR animals. Same as if she let out her dogs and they dug up your flowerbeds, or "played" with your chickens.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I'm definitely no lawyer here but it seems to me if someone approved chickens next door and waited for the homeowner to spend a significant amount of money on a coupe and supplies and then revoked said approval through complaining that they're have some ground for a small civil suit

It does seem that recovering the cost of the coop and even the cost of the birds ought to be recoverable...

 

[Cory in MI]

It does seem that recovering the cost of the coop and even the cost of the birds ought to be recoverable...

In my opinion it would be worth mentioning it to the problem neighbor if it gets put of hand just for the sake of equalized leverage on the matter. People tend to hold their tounge and act differently when the have a bit of skin in the game

 

[ThePinkCoop]

Bored, busy body neighbors are horrible to live with.

 

[moetrout]

Kill that old bioch with kindness. Everytime you see her smile, wave and yell hello......as she is running into the house! Sure glad I live in the country!

 

[Kikiriki]

Here is what I would do:  Since this woman has never spoken of any of this to you and has only spoken positively about it to your face, I'd go and speak to her. Act like you were never told any of what her supposed plans are.  Tell her your little birds are about ready to move to their coop, that you know she might have concerns and ask her if she'd like to come see them so that she will know she doesn't need to be worried about them.  Include comments about the fact that you really want to make sure you aren't going to have future problems with any of the neighbors etc. 

None of that may work but it's worth a shot.  I'd also be checking with the authorities or the city re her history, that she's already given written permission etc.  If it's true that she can revoke her "permission" at any time after the fact, and cause you to have to move your birds after you've built a coop and gotten chickens, that is ridiculous and unreasonable!  I've never heard of a town's regulation's being so arbitrary and left up to individual neighor's to decide and flip flop on.  I would get to the bottom of that before I went to the trouble of building a coop. 

I tried to give an ovation for this comment, but the button would not highlight... Anyway, what I wanted to say was: Perfect comment promoting reasonable, rational behavior! Great idea for giving a tour, too!

You took the OP's character into account, too...this is not a vindictive sounding person, and your reply works with her good qualities!

I would add that arranging a meeting between the neighbor and the chicks might help, too... Get her invested in them, let her feed them, hold them, and listen to that sweet "peep peep peep"!

and if your coop is lovely with flowers around it and shrubs for shade, who could hate that?!

You ask her to help pick which flowers, or help decide the paint color... Draw her in instead of building a wall...or fence as the case may be... Lol!

 

[ThePinkCoop]

I tried to give an ovation for this comment, but the button would not highlight... Anyway, what I wanted to say was: Perfect comment promoting reasonable, rational behavior! Great idea for giving a tour, too!

You took the OP's character into account, too...this is not a vindictive sounding person, and your reply works with her good qualities!

I would add that arranging a meeting between the neighbor and the chicks might help, too... Get her invested in them, let her feed them, hold them, and listen to that sweet "peep peep peep"!

and if your coop is lovely with flowers around it and shrubs for shade, who could hate that?!

You ask her to help pick which flowers, or help decide the paint color... Draw her in instead of building a wall...or fence as the case may be... Lol!

Yes! I agree! Maybe let her help name a few!

 

[rngrbill]

A neighbor like her is why I'M moving to Louisville area. looking also across the river in IN, I like the idea of complaining about her dogs. they don't have to bark or smell when the inspectors are there. Maybe you can get the other neighbors to help,

 

[Kikiriki]

A neighbor like her is why I'M moving to Louisville area. looking also across the river in IN,  I like the idea of complaining about her dogs.  they don't have to bark or smell when the inspectors are there. Maybe you can get the other neighbors to help,

Irritating neighbors are everywhere, and good neighbors move, or can even do irritating things occasionally... I do wish I had money to buy a few thousand acres and plant myself in the middle!

I had one completely insane neighbor across the street. She did not like that our cars were legally parked along the roadway where she could see them. (she had plenty of room to plant a border hedge, at least an acre sized front yard). Her complaint was that it "ruined her view" which was of my house and the road! So she started attacking our cars even if they were in our driveway (we only had room for two cars, but had three, plus visitors cars). All our vehicles had many instances of being splated by eggs, pizza, chili dogs, whatever.... Flat tires, too.


Then she almost hurt someone: She put a trash can in the road by our cars one night: my sons GF came over and there was no can there, then half an hour later, I hear a squealing and a crash and more squealing... We run out and find a passing car had hit the can and swerved, almost going into the very deep ditch... There was no wind that night. The can did not blow, and sure did not move by itself. I know she intended for our cars to be damaged by the can, but that driver could have been hurt, his car could have been damaged...of course we had no proof it was her...

A few days later I again found our cars in the driveway covered with egg... I ordered a security camera, then I went over and told her it had to stop, and I was putting up a security camera which has night vision, to ensure it would stop. She went insane, denying it was her, screaming like a mad woman, and she told me to leave. I did, but before I was even halfway up the very long driveway, she picked up a 10 foot long 2x4 and came running after me...she only stopped when it was an inch from the back of my head! (I could not run due to knee injury for which I had surgery scheduled). I called the police, reported everything and he talked to her. She denied it all, of course, but the 2x4 was laying right there where they were standing! I never had one more incident of any kind after he talked to her: coincidence? I don't think so!

And this psycho woman babysat other peoples children! She put her place up for sale shortly after the cop incident, and thankfully is now long gone....I feel deeply sorry for her new neighbors, wherever she may have gone, but I have never been more happy to see someone packing their crap...

Out of curiosity, I just looked her up in the court records: SEVEN cases of "Date Violence", "Domestic Violence" or "Repeat Violence"... Be careful who you let babysit your kids....be careful where you let your kids go to play...she only has had problems with adults, so far, but ....