Cantankerous neighbor

[enola]

Here is my opinion on the latest development: It sounds like your neighbor has had it with your chickens on his property. He has already asked you TWICE to keep them contained. Count your blessings that he's not letting his dog loose when your birds come calling. Does that make it right for him to chew out your husband? No. But I'm willing to bet that there have been times when you've reached the end of your rope over something and blown a gasket, too. As far as the child that leaves toys and comes strolling into your house - how many times have you addressed that with the parents? Have you sat the kid down yourself and explained that they must knock and wait for permission to enter? Or how about locking your doors for awhile? Toys left on the lawn? Quietly make them disappear. Why is the kid coming over in the first place? Not that any a of it really matters. It's still your responsibility to keep your chickens off his property and it sounds like you're working on that. Hopefully once you show respect for him and his property, he'll teach his child to respect yours. Especially if you NICELY (yes, that means being the better person here) that you don't appreciate the kid wandering in and out of your house at will and leaving toys on your lawn. I hope you can work things out. Good neighbors are invaluable, but to have one, you also have to be one.

Very well said!

 

[MichaelZ13]

Your neighbor has the right to his property. And you would not be too happy (even cranky) if this same neighbor's dog was on your property with one of your chickens hanging out of his mouth.

Get a few rolls of chicken wire and some inexpensive posts or garden poles. Or build a chicken tractor. And while you are in the process of doing this, let your neighbor know you are doing this so that he is a bit more patient while you take care of this. It were me, I think I would erect a makeshift enclosure as soon as possible.

His child wandering in your house and yard is another issue. Politely but firmly let the child know not to do this. Also let the mother know.

 

[megan13]

My rooster just fought off a hawk! I heard him scream so I ran outside and saw them fighting. I yelled and it flew away. I found one my hen a little bloody but she'll be ok. I'm so proud of Georgie! Next time my neighbors complain I'll tell them he's a hero.

 

[trailrider330]

Go Georgie! You are the man... I mean bird!

 

[donrae]

x2 to bobbi-j's post.

Exactly how many times should he have to tell you he doesn't want your animals on his property? He's already done more than I would. Honestly, were I your neighbor, you'd be short a few birds and I'd be having a nice pan of enchiladas.

 

[mammakugs]

It appears that some of you missed the point. We get it. Our chickens need to be on our property. I was venting and was hoping this was a safe place. We are building the run and figuring it out. As for the neighbor....he is a Scrooge. About everything. He will always have something to complain about. Other people that know him know exactly what I am talking about. Having been a military family we have lived next door to many different nationalities, religions, ranks...etc....never had a problem with any of them. This man....ugh. As for the time line the first day he said something, the next day he yelled at my husband, then the third day while we were working on the run we put the chickens in a fenced in area on our property. He came our yelling at us that the run is a part of his rent. It has been ugly. Almost makes me want to just say skrew it and when we buy our own house get chickens. But we are being the bigger person in this situation. I am still speaking to his wife. His son....well. We are not stupid. We have set the boundaries. He is 4 and does not know the meaning of the word no. Anyway, he is a good kid for the most part. My kids really like to play with him. His toys get left here and we have gotten yelled at by tbe husband as if we are the ones taking them. It is just a perpetual problem. It will all work out. Just frustrating.

 

[the poppster]

I use 4 ft tall, welded wire for my temporary/movable chicken pen...the wire will stand up almost on its own...I have used a number of different types of stakes to hold it up...metal push poles...bamboo garden poles...old tubes from a heat exchanger...saplings....stickers....lath...what ever works...add a few twists of stove wire to secure the wire to the poles...bottom and top...give myself some kind of gate to get in and out..works like a charm...you can even thread the poles thru the wire at about the second row from the top and catch the bottom of the wire with the pole before you pound or push it into the ground....this eliminates the need for stove wire...and twisting and twisting the wire every time you move the pen...when you're not using it, just roll it up and set it out of the way.

 

[aart]

I use 4 ft tall, welded wire for my temporary/movable chicken pen...the wire will stand up almost on its own...I have used a number of different types of stakes to hold it up...metal push poles...bamboo garden poles...old tubes from a heat exchanger...saplings....stickers....lath...what ever works...add a few twists of stove wire to secure the wire to the poles...bottom and top...give myself some kind of gate to get in and out..works like a charm...you can even thread the poles thru the wire at about the second row from the top and catch the bottom of the wire with the pole before you pound or push it into the ground....this eliminates the need for stove wire...and twisting and twisting the wire every time you move the pen...when you're not using it, just roll it up and set it out of the way.

Yep, for sure.
If pen is in a circular shape the curl of the fencing off the roll almost stands by itself and just needs a few posts to secure it.....
.....might not hold up to a dog or kid trying to get in, but will hold the chickens. I just overlap the ends by a foot or two for a 'gate'.

 

[shortgrass]

Yep, for sure.
If pen is in a circular shape the curl of the fencing off the roll almost stands by itself and just needs a few posts to secure it.....
.....might not hold up to a dog or kid trying to get in, but will hold the chickens. I just overlap the ends by a foot or two for a 'gate'.

Yep, that's how I do it too lol Wonderful to catch unruly birds as well lol, loop it around them when they aren't looking

 

[shortgrass]

It appears that some of you missed the point. We get it. Our chickens need to be on our property. I was venting and was hoping this was a safe place. We are building the run and figuring it out. As for the neighbor....he is a Scrooge. About everything. He will always have something to complain about. Other people that know him know exactly what I am talking about. Having been a military family we have lived next door to many different nationalities, religions, ranks...etc....never had a problem with any of them. This man....ugh. As for the time line the first day he said something, the next day he yelled at my husband, then the third day while we were working on the run we put the chickens in a fenced in area on our property. He came our yelling at us that the run is a part of his rent. It has been ugly. Almost makes me want to just say skrew it and when we buy our own house get chickens. But we are being the bigger person in this situation. I am still speaking to his wife. His son....well. We are not stupid. We have set the boundaries. He is 4 and does not know the meaning of the word no. Anyway, he is a good kid for the most part. My kids really like to play with him. His toys get left here and we have gotten yelled at by tbe husband as if we are the ones taking them. It is just a perpetual problem. It will all work out. Just frustrating.

Yanno, its truly irritating when people just don't seem to get along... Im sure we've all had "those" neighbors..as I'm sure some of us have BEEN "those" neighbors lol I always have to remind myself that there must be a reason someone is like that; maybe they are depressed, problems at home, etc. Some people are just jerks. No excuse. But it really does take a lot to be the bigger person in a situation like this. The child is obviously going to learn from his father...but he can get an example from YOUR family as well.. The wife... Probably has to put up with it, but probably has for years. The guy has a burr in his shorts. Lol.

I'd get with your landlord and make sure they know what's going on, where the property line us so he can't beller about it being on HIS side etc...

Like a child in daycare, the teacher needs to be aware of the bully ... And this guy is most definitely a bully.

Oh but on the upside... It won't be this way forever 5 years of horrible neighbors and I got to move too