Cantankerous neighbor

[Mini Meat]

You might consider an electric poultry net. It would be portable so if you move... It can go with.

 

[drumstick diva]

I don't think your neighbor is cantankerous at all - I haven't had a dog since 1989 yet, every few days I end up scooping poop that somebody's dog leaves on my property.

Why should I have to do that? I'm sure your neighbor feels the same way - if he wanted chicken poop, he'd have his own flock.

 

[shortgrass]

Well, plenty of good ideas for keeping your chickens home, so I'm no help there

How bout some eggs? And maybe a potted tomato plant to replace some of the vegetation that your gals have most likely been munching?

Cantankerous can be alleviated with some free eggs most times

I get mad at my OWN chickens pooping and eating where they're not supposed to be...lol I have a sprayer on my hose to spray them out of my herb bed, and they're MINE ha-ha...

Keep them home so he doesn't get MORE cantankerous

 

[Mrs. K]

I think you need to reduce the size of your flock. Larger flocks take more room, and they spread out more. What seems like more than enough room for chicks, rapidly becomes not enough room as the chickens grow. 64 square feet is not enough space for eight full grown birds.

This is why they want to free range more and more, this is why they are spreading out into the neighbors yard, younger birds are darling and cause little damage, but older birds are not so cute, and cause considerable damage to landscaping, plus have bigger poos.

If you can't afford more fencing, then reduce the flock to 4 hens. You will still get plenty of eggs, you will cut your feed bill in half, they will fit more comfortably in the set up that you have. And your neighbor will be much more relieved. Two roosters are way too many roosters for this set up, they are going to start problems too in this size of set up.

If you think it will be hard to reduce your flock, I would consider how hard it will be when the dog does get them. That is the predator that you need to consider.

Mrs K

 

[mammakugs]

Thanks everyone. He really is a cranky neighbor. Henis in a great mood one day...the nextnot so much. His wife is awesome. Lol. I do realize that it is our responsibility to keep our chickens in control. His wife liked that they were eating her bugs and ticks. He is more like the individual that will find something to be crabby about no matter what. Anyway, i will be honest. I was hoping for at least one person to say he should take a hike. Lol. Kidding. Hubby and i are coming up with a plan. Just frustrating ya know? I didnt realize that they would be damaging to landscape so for our sake it may be a good idea to put them in a run. We built a hoop coop but I like to have them out for a bit. A work in progress right?

 

[megan13]

I understand neighbors can be a pain! I had the same thing where I asked my neighbors if they wanted me to rehome my cockerel and they said it was fine and even that they like crowing. Well guess what now he's big and he crows all day and they are upset! You can't hear him when he's in the coop and I make sure not to let him before 9. So he's not waking them up! So now I have to get a no crow collar for him because my dad promised them we would. We are in the country and well within our rights to have a rooster! And we say nothing when they blast their radio all day! Sorry to rant but it's so frustrating! So I'm on your side! He said he was ok with it. Ask him if he'd like to pay for fencing.

 

[Mrs. K]

The thing is, a lot of people are ok with the idea of chickens, but they have no experience with chickens. They imagine a little clucking, a little scratching, a single crow to announce morning. Fresh eggs with their coffee, ahhh life in the country.

Then reality hits, the crowing is constant, no longer entertaining, the chickens are big and ugly, They tear up everything, and if they are confined too tightly sometimes they stink.

What I am saying, is people can change their minds.

Mrs K

 

[microchick]

The old saying that "Good fences makes Good neighbors" is so very true.

 

[bobbi-j]

I understand neighbors can be a pain! I had the same thing where I asked my neighbors if they wanted me to rehome my cockerel and they said it was fine and even that they like crowing. Well guess what now he's big and he crows all day and they are upset! You can't hear him when he's in the coop and I make sure not to let him before 9. So he's not waking them up! So now I have to get a no crow collar for him because my dad promised them we would. We are in the country and well within our rights to have a rooster! And we say nothing when they blast their radio all day! Sorry to rant but it's so frustrating! So I'm on your side! He said he was ok with it. Ask him if he'd like to pay for fencing.

This is another example of the romance of chickens meeting reality. (Aart, I love that quote). As Mrs. K pointed out, if someone isn't experienced with chickens, the initial idea sounds great. A nice crow in the morning to announce the sunrise, fresh eggs with the morning coffee. But then there is the incessant crowing, the squawking and squabbling and the smell that can accompany them. Do your neighbors have small children that might be napping during the day? Does one of them work nights? There may be reasons that you know nothing of that makes the crowing hard for them to handle. You may well be within your "rights" to have chickens, but there is something to be said for being considerate to your neighbors.

 

[kristaschics15]

Talk to your landlord mine was fine with a fence and we put a somewhat temporary fence up so that when it comes up you won't even know it was there using using metal stakes. It keeps my dog in and my chickens and free roam the yard when I let them out. Or keep a look out for a larger dog pen that you can attach to the coop for some free range time. Where there is a will there is a way.