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

[FrizzlesRule]

My neighbors from hell have not complained about my roos and better not. They are not good neighbors and most of them a jobless druggies and rude in other ways. If you are lucky or unlucky enough to have neighbors doing bad things, they no doubt will not complain about your roos. High price to pay, but love my roos and can't afford to move right now.

 

[cassie]

If the roosters are legal, just get some business cards from some local realtors and give them to your neighbor. Just tell him those folks will be happy to help him with his problem.

 

[teach1rusl]

In a city or suburb area, I probably would only keep hens myself; it's just not worth a constant battle for something that, in the end, you most likely won't win. Yes, dogs, kids, and early morning lawn mowers can be loud and annoying too, but city/suburb folks have a different view of those noises, and are more tolerant of them. I think if he calls animal control often enough over the crowing, you will be asked to get rid of them. I certainly would not get rid of all of your chickens. I'm so glad I live out in the country...

 

[Peep_Show]

Well, your roosters have a right to crow in your yard. Your neighbor has a right to scream in his. Both of you probably find it equally annoying, so you have a standoff.

My (hijacked) suggestion: If you have kids, have them run around and crow in the yard at the top of their little voices. Then if your neighbor complains to Animal Control about the noise, you can point out that he's complaining about kids playing in their own backyard! He probably wouldn't be taken too seriously again for future complaints and you'd have nifty grounds for a harassment allegation...

BUT if you wanted to play nice and keep neighborhood peace as this can surely escalate, then re-home the roos, get a few more hens and take over a dozen or so eggs as a peace offering. I've found that my hens like being spinsters (less shed feathers) and will lay just fine without the influence of a roo. I'm only saying this because future consequences will be if the folks or you move on a bad note, a chicken-lover in their new neighborhood will have a difficult time because of the balls that have now been set in motion.....as has happened to me. Think of yourself as an ambassador of chicken goodwill.

 

[chicken911]

I'd rehome the roos, and write the man a sticky-sweet letter about "in the interest of neighborly peace, respect....yada,yada...so grateful that you have been able to settle this like adults without resorting to conflict, yelling ...yada,yada..." They'll get the picture that yes, you rehomed, but he's an ass for dealing with it as he did.

 

[sydney13]

i had 1 hen and a roo but i had to get rid of my roo for the same reason. the hen and roo would never leave each others side so when i took the roo out of the coop to send him to a farm the hen totally freaked out. she was calling for days for her rooster and she would sulk inside the coop. i have some chicks in the brooder for her and she will have some more hens to be friends with in a few weeks when they can go outside. i think as long as you have 2 hens together they will be ok with the roosters leaving

 

[silkiechicken]

Get a few beagles or some good barking dogs for a month or two. LOL

Sorry about your neighbor situation. I know some keep their roos inside till late afternoon.

 

[Olive Hill]

Frankly, after Mr. Neighbor's little hissy fit I'd be inclined to tell him you would have been happy to work with them on the rooster before but now that they've set the neighborly relations bar so low they can buzz off. Next time he asks you what you're going to do, my answer would be not a darn thing and I'd follow it up with a warning that if he continues to harass you -- which unlike your rooster *is* illegal -- you'll be happy to make a call to the authorities of your own.

 

[foxinachickenhouse]

I agree with Matthew Ryan. And with Olive Hill too. You have the law on your side. I would document and possibly report every interaction with said neighbor and get friendly with animal control and your other neighbors. Record the activities of your chickens if you can. Get familiar with noise ordinances; time, duration of noise, sound level etc. You may not be in violation at all. Our noise ordinance says that the noise level in violation has to be sustained for at least 10 minutes. If your neighbor harasses you again I would respond with a polite "you are being recorded." And do it. Small digital recorders are affordable. Do not change your behavior or give away your birds. And above all, relax and enjoy them. Don't let this guy push you around. Clearly he gets away with it too often as it is. The whole story chaps my hide. Good luck.

(If you do decide to remove birds, you might start with removing just one of the roosters. At least competitive crowing might be eliminated.)

 

[SAORSA]

Quote:
I am so liking this post. Especially since he seems to be the only one with a problem. You might point that out to him when you hand him the realtor cards.