Evil neighbor! Need to find the flock a new home. PICS Added

[kcfuerst]

I also live in the city. Since roosters make so much noise, I didn't get any. Our city code requires that we keep our birds enclosed in a run/coop; and while our municipal code does not disallow roosters, the code is wide open for noise complaints. It only takes ONE complaint and the source of the nuisance is outta there. Not long ago, my next door neighbor had a couple roosters and they were extremely annoying. Couldn't be outside without ear piercing noise day and all night, couldn't go anywhere in my house without hearing them; if was awful. Thankfully the roosters are gone now. And I'm saying that as a chicken lover.

I'm not sure I could be convinced that your rooster only crows a few times here and there. You neighbor was probably at his wits end and hadn't been able to enjoy his/her home, sleep, or peace of mind since the roosters started crowing. I would recommend getting rid of both your roosters and getting a couple more hens, and possibly making amends with your neighbors letting them know you didn't realize the roosters were a nuisance. It pays to be sensitive to your neighbors.

In the late evening I let my birds out to free range about an hour before dark, but I stay with them because *I* am their rooster and keep diligent watch over them for predators from the earth and the sky. You can do the same thing. While there are still threats from hawks in the city, it is not quite as critical as in wide open spaces or in the country.

Sorry you are having this trouble, but it seems easily resolved.

 

[gettinaclue]

I would keep the roo simply because of his behavior. Calling animal control and then yelling over the fence?! He should have had the common courtesy to come and talk to you like a normal human being. There are ways to find out the law besides calling animal control.

You are totally legal and really, I would tell him to go stuff it.

Don't get me wrong, I believe in keeping the neighbors happy. I live waaaaaay out in the country and I spoke with my neighbors before getting chickens, and I don't have a roo-no plans then possible plans for the future, but not now. But your neighbor is acting like a petulent child and really won't be happy until he can do what he wants with your backyard.

Keep them and be happy.

 

[SAORSA]

Here's the really bad news. Even though the chickens are legal, like with dogs, if they are too noisy, you can be forced to remove them.

Animal control will be forced to park outside your home and record "proof of the complaint". If they get it, (and that would be some magic animal control "how many and how loud" number), your chicken is cooked.
In my county we have a university with a poultry science department that can surgically alter the vocal cords of a roo. I have never done it but you can maybe have a vet remove the loud crow from your roos.

I really hate the sound of that, (no pun intended), but you will be able to keep your roos. I think animal control would have to take your extreme measures into consideration.

Although you will still have to worry that your neighbors might resort to more drastic and possibly sinister action against your chickens, (day in and day out).

Maybe if you get them involved in the effort. Tell them that you really are attached to your flock

and to please help you find a way to make keeping them possible.

The bottom line is,
If you are forced to remove your flock, you will be sad and angry with your neighbor and it will fester and there will be trouble in the future.
If you keep the flock without making peace with your neighbor, he will be angry and it will fester and there will be trouble in the future.

TOO MUCH STRESS !!

There now, wasn't that helpful ?

 

[crittersitter]

Keeping the peace with your neighbors is important in my opinion.Remember you are going to be neighbors for a long time. I understand roos are legal where you are but wouldn't it just be easier to rehome the roos and replace with some new hens? Double the eggs?!

I'm sorry for your troubles.

 

[kickinchicken]

AB-SO-FREIKEN-LUTELY do not get rid of one feather!

My neighbor has 2 dogs that bark at the wind, the sky, birds, me, the UPS guy....but its for 60 seconds. Sure I think of killing them in their sleep, but honestly......

Its called GROW UP!

Like another poster said, tell them to SCREW. Your babies are LEGAL, so he needs to just deal. I agree with other posters that if it were a dog, would you immediately cater to this one neighbor and rehome your dog? You only have 4 birds, hardly an issue. I would not even worry about it. If the ACO (animal control officer) comes again, I'd state that he only crows once is a while...a lot less that so-and-so neighbor's dog. Just relax, enjoy your birds and fah-get-about-it!

I know it is wicked stressful knowing that you have one tool in your neighborhood trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill. He obviously is THAT neighbor. The one that has to be the jerk and cause everyone misery. I bet if you ask around, he's done something similar to other neighbors.

And when he asks you "what are you going to do about that?", just ignore him. He honestly isn't worth the explanation or worry. Keep your babies. If your roo gets out of hand, I agree that it might be time to find him some new digs or a warm stew pot to call home

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
I would still like some clarification on legality statement. Both HENS *and* ROOSTERS are legal, correct? Are there any conditional statements attached to the law allowing chickens (such as noise situations causing a reported problem)? The AC officer wasn't trying to turn a blind eye to the situation and let you try to work it out with the neighbors was he?

Do the neighbors work at night and sleep during the day? Any reason the roosters could be bothering them other than your neighbors just looking for something to complain about?

I hope you can work it out for yourself and them, crabby neighbors have to be the pits.

Best wishes,
Ed

 

[Cindy in PA]

Let me add another vote to NOT get rid of your chickens! I lived with fields and woods on all sides until 2005 when they built a big a$$ development behind me, separated by a beautiful fencerow. In my backyard I have the chicken coop & a greenhouse that needs repair at ths point. I had chickens for 12 years before these people moved in & a rooster once in awhile. When I got a rooster 2 years ago, the neighbor closest to me asked if I had a rooster now & said it didn't bother them. Right before I got rid & my last flock in April, I did notice her kids telling my rooster to "shut up" or they would be dinner. I figure he had gotten to the parents (kids are only 3 & 6), even though he crowed very little. I do have a banty rooster now, but she claimed she never knew we had more chickens, even though last fall wre had 12 banty roosters in a pen waiting to meet their maker. So far no real problems and I can move my coop if necessary all the way to the far side of my property, but don't plan to. I was in the house they bought when it was for sale, just to be nosy & see what they could see from their upstairs. If they were dumb enough to pay $400,000 to look at my property, tough! I get to hear leaf blowers, mowers, screaming kids and the like. The kids have thrown rocks at my chicken pen, even though they can't reach it. They put the kids' swingset no 5 foot from our line in there piddly row of trees. She throws her yard waste in my FILs woods instead of putting it in the garbage and has no respect for property lines, but I keep my mouth shut. Let them complain about my roosters. I THINK there might be one in my new bunch of layers...............LOL. Neighbors are the pits. Especially ones that move in to the area and then complain about rural noises. JMHO Try to sound proof some, but don't get rid of the roosters or they've got you.

 

[gardenergirl]

Thanks for all your thoughts and suggestions. We still aren't sure what we will do. Right now it is 9:25am on Sunday morning and the poor chickens are locked back in the coop covered with a tarp. They were out free ranging when the crowing started, so back in they went.

What fun!

Animal Control did tell me that I did not have to remove my roosters "until a judge decided that". I would hate for it to get that far. I think that the neighbor will certainly get a few of the folks on his block to chime in and complain to AC. I already left a message with AC yesterday about the confrontation with the guy. Thought I would beat him to it.

I already have a dog. Wonder if I can train her to go out and bark in the middle of the night?

 

[duck walk]

I am evil...I would have a boom box on full blast with rap nailed to the fence and blasting 24/7, I would be firing up the chainsaw and the lawn mower at dawn, especially on the week end, I would be working on my car and racing the motor at the back fence, I would borrow all the neighborhood kids for back yard noisy activities...I would have that idiot begging for one little rooster crow instead of the alternative...don't let him bully you...it will only get worse if he feels he can run over you on this...

 

[babyblue]

there wouldnt be a snowballs chance in you know where that I would get ride of those chickens, what next? you kids make too much noise they have to go, so does the lawnmower, you must cut the grass by hand with scissors? NEVER EVER give up a legal right as long as you have it. I would keep the chickens in the coop until noon or so, the hens should be done laying and the roos should be done with most of the crowing. heck I would get more hens if allowed by law.

I would also tell the neighbor were to stuff it and that roos also crow as a warning, so if anybody has any smart ideas the chickens let the owners know somethings wrong. but thats just me. I also might insulate a little and padlock the coop at night. being proactive never hurts.