City slicker neighbors..

[ganellderek]

So,
While I was out brining my cushions in for a storm. A sheriff pulled up, apparently my neighbor had called and complained about my chickens. They like to hop the fence every once in a while. Like twice now. They usually head to a neighbor who loves them, but ended up in the neighbors yard. I shewed them back to my place. Well, the sheriff said basically there are no punitive things that can be done, but asked if I would mind putting them back into the coop for a bit to keep the peace... So, I not sure how to handle this lady. She is very strange and avoids anyone outside. She was out of town and her tree got knocked over by the wind. It was right at her driveway and unfortunately we share a driveway. So the way it blew down it was at an angle and could potentially fall on someone. My husband went ahead and pulled it off of the stump and drug it to the burn pile to keep it from being dangerous. The lady shows back up a couple weeks later and heads to our house at 8am and practically accuses us of cutting it down. (The bottom half was rotted). I explained to her that the last storm had pretty high winds and the tree gave way at the rot. She proceeded to demand to know the exact date (while holding a note pad and stating she knew we had storms because several friends had told her). I responded I didn't write the date down, but I could try and look it up.


Sorry for the long story, but wanted to show that this lady is not one you can reason with. I am not entirely sure what to do about all this.

 

[dekel18042]

So,
While I was out brining my cushions in for a storm. A sheriff pulled up, apparently my neighbor had called and complained about my chickens. They like to hop the fence every once in a while. Like twice now. They usually head to a neighbor who loves them, but ended up in the neighbors yard. I shewed them back to my place. Well, the sheriff said basically there are no punitive things that can be done, but asked if I would mind putting them back into the coop for a bit to keep the peace... So, I not sure how to handle this lady. She is very strange and avoids anyone outside. She was out of town and her tree got knocked over by the wind. It was right at her driveway and unfortunately we share a driveway. So the way it blew down it was at an angle and could potentially fall on someone. My husband went ahead and pulled it off of the stump and drug it to the burn pile to keep it from being dangerous. The lady shows back up a couple weeks later and heads to our house at 8am and practically accuses us of cutting it down. (The bottom half was rotted). I explained to her that the last storm had pretty high winds and the tree gave way at the rot. She proceeded to demand to know the exact date (while holding a note pad and stating she knew we had storms because several friends had told her). I responded I didn't write the date down, but I could try and look it up.


Sorry for the long story, but wanted to show that this lady is not one you can reason with. I am not entirely sure what to do about all this.

If your chickens are getting onto her property by flying over a fence, you could clip their wing feathers so they can't fly, several feathers on the tips of one or both wings, being careful not to trim blood or newly growing out feathers. Of course, depending on your situation, they could impede your chickens' ability to escape a predator so I would want a very safe environment for them or I wouldn't do it.
Maybe if you lock them up for a day or two then let them out?
Is, this a laying flock? Have you ever tried giving your neighbor eggs? Perhaps if you gave her a dozen eggs once in a while, she would overlook an occasional trespass by your chickens, especially if you were right there to shoo them back. Good luck.

 

[ganellderek]

We may have to clip the wings. The lady wouldn't take eggs. She complained about our kids being on the shared driveway. She also does other strange things. Driving her car into her yard to avoid people outside. Parking and putting her windshield screen up and hiding in her car until people go inside. The neighbors on the other side of her have chickens too. She complained to my husband about them because they are friendly and tried to make friends with her. I am just worried she is going to complain and cause problems no matter what.

We do have many predators. I have lost 2 in the last few days. Totally disappeared in the middle of the day. Not even a feather left.

 

[SouthernCalEggs]

Your predator might be the neighbor...

 

[ganellderek]

That is the other thing I am worried about. Sadly the lady has some issues... I love my little feather friends!!

Thanks for the advise on the clipping. I will look up how to do it.

 

[b.hromada]

She sounds like a busy-body. I have one next door to me, but I've been lucky, that in the last 5 years of so, he's left us alone! Sometimes there is just no pleasing people, is there?

 

[ganellderek]

She is something for sure. She didn't even bother to talk to us before calling the sherif. We have lived here for 11 years and never had issues with a neighbor like this. She is aweful