do I have the right to be upset?

[Cosmopolis Chick]

Quote:
So... now is neighbor going to be over for "First Pick of The Litter"?
Be prepared and have your selection in another area!
Does neighbor have a heat lamp and chick water/feed dishes?
Or are you supposed to raise them to an age they can go outside (for free)?

You did nothing wrong. You are very trusting, don't let anyone take that away (see my tag line below!).

I would hand over half of the chicks and mildly state "you must have forgotten our deal was exchanging
eggs for eggs, which we did. If there is another time we'll just put it in writing." Which of course, you'll never deal with them again anyway.
Smile while you're saying it, life's too short to sweat the small stuff or let anyone else decide how you'll behave.
(((hug))) Donna
(alas, I predict that they will be grumpy later this spring that either you gave them 'inferior' chicks or 'sick' chicks that died.)

 

[Altoncoop]

I think I would ask to have my half of the ones you gave her to eat Scrambled .... Might jar a small memory. But as the rest say its a small price to pay for peace and quiet.

 

[mmaddie's mom]

When you hand over the babies (good advice above) ask when you will be able to pick up your quiche ?

 

[mrsp523]

Sorry this happened, especially with neighbors. I dont know how I would respond. But I do know I would charge her. Maybe if you do what the other BYC folks said and at least mention the misunderstanding and explaining all the labor and money (never mind the attachment) that goes into it she will understand. We will never understand what makes a person be the way your neighbor is...I always try and remember that people are put in my life for a reason. A lesson will be learned by either you or her. Good luck with the exchange. Hand her a dozen store bought eggs and say there fertile but dont have the time to hatch them, and will she take 3 weeks of her life to pay and care for them.

Ok, ok...thats not nice...just a thought from my evil side. Let us know how it goes.

 

[bobbi-j]

Hard as it is, I think you're doing the right thing. Give her the chicks, chalk it up to a lesson learned, and don't deal with her again. If you can find a tactful, peaceful way to bring it up, it wouldn't hurt to mention that there was a misunderstanding. Personally, I think peace between neighbors is way more important than a few chicks.

 

[drdoolittle]

mrsp523 is right about charging her. Just tell her it is $5/day for boarding and care------starting when you first put them in the brooder.

I bet she'll come back with, "Oh, I really don't have any where to put them anyway----why don't you just keep them."

 

[FrenchToast]

Well, I can surely understand the how upsetting this would be and it is easy for all of us to tell you what you should say or do but when it comes right down to it would we all have the guts or nerve to say or do what we tell you to do??? Probably not.

But that said, if I would hand over the chicks you could hand her an invoice for your hatching services, vaccinations (if you vaccinated ) room and board etc.
Around here people will hatch out eggs for $1-$2 chick. Plus anyone selling chicks charges lets say $2-$3 a chick and the price goes up $.50 each week.


Or hand her 2 dozen eating eggs and tell her now we are even. Are your eggs fertile by any chance??? If so they you are more then even. Fertile eggs for Fertile eggs.

If you don't feel you can confront her you can always leave the eggs on her porch explaining that there must have been a misunderstanding about the eggs and tell her the eggs you left should make up the difference.
If you have an extra Cutlers catalog put that in the bag. Circle the incubator you would reccomend for her to use.

Or you can get some fertile eggs from the other person you get them from and hand her those. Then again you would be more than fair. Explain to her you are to attached to them now because you misunderstood the deal and can't let them go.

Or simply hand her cash (or a check as proof of payment) for the cost of fertile hatching eggs.

I know everyones ideas sound good but only you can decide what to do to keep peace in the neighborhood.

All I know is I'd be real Peed Off if I had to "give in" to her misunderstanding which I really don't think it was. I think she just wants those cute chicks.

How old of a woman is she??? Otherwise is she a very forward type or meek and mild?

Good Luck,
Do keep us posted !!! Wish you luck, you did a fine job of hatching them !!

 

[fl_deb]

You have already gotten some very good advice from many BYCer's on this issue. Positively asserting yourself without anger is very difficult, but necessary in today's world.

I would say, "I know you are here to pick up chicks, but I would like to let you know that when we exchanged the eggs, it was my understanding that was the end of our commitments to one another. I have put a lot of time, money, and energy to make this hatch as sucessful as it was, and feel cheated now, that I am being told I have to give you half, since I do not recall any such stipulation in the initial bartering agreement or during the egg exchange. Can you please help me remember when we discussed the exchange of chiks after the hatch?"

If she persists, give her the chiks cheerfully, and then tell yourself that she either needed them much more than you did to feed her family etc., or she is needing an Intervention from heaven above, either way it is her lost and your gain because it is obvious you are willing to do the right thing.

 

[Pinky]

Quote:

I would do this^(feed store chicks)
or this:
Quote:
Someone here said something about reminding her of trading eggs for eggs. If I ever spoke to her again, I would bring that up.

 

[BooBear]

I would not worry about good neighbor relationship as she already broke the trust.
Be honest, politely let her know that this was not part of the agreement and you do not appreciate her trying to take what she has no right to. Let her know that payment would be expected if she insists on the chicks.