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

[luvmypyr]

we also have bantams.. we have several roosters ... i think your neighbors are being ridiculous... bantam rooster have such little crows.. i find barking dogs WAY more anoyying!! if they are legal i wouldn't worry

 

[SB Austex]

There is a lot of good advice here. Although you are legally 'right', dealing with a difficult neighbor is no picnic. He seems like a bully who is probably used to getting his way, so don't go completely belly up (in the dog pack sense). Document your interactions and any threats he may make. Send him a certified letter (this lets him know you're aware of legal possibilities), enclosing the code which would allow you to have both the roosters and hens and let him know you that, even so, you will consider any 'reasonable' suggestions on noise mitigation. Ask if he perhaps works nights, and needs to sleep at certain times, etc. Be polite and keep the tone on the high road. Request that he respond in writing so you will have time to consider his suggestions. If ultimately, you decide to rehome the roosters, I'd second the advice of those who suggest the middle ground of switching to hens only. Then, send him another certified letter indicating that in the interest of good neighborliness, you are making this sacrifice of rehoming a pet and you expect to have no further problems.

My two cents.

 

[ivan3]

I agree with polling all neighbors (social consensus), as you already have the law on your side (social authority), but it is best to bury them with the `dirt':

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103667

http://www.ehow.com/how_5978382_use-pc-db-meter.html

30-60db for ~1.5min. x3 per day? Yawn...

Take measurement of roo's, at their worst, at the fence line. Take measurement along your street (have an acquaintance with an old cycle tool past) - vidtape tests with clear shots of meter readings. Find out what local laws are on noise abatement/nuisance (usually have db level), also read the County/City regs on precisely what constitutes an animal `noise' nuisance - don't rely on the animal control pers. alone.

You can set up vid cam. on back porch, wireless cam, etc. to confront on the `all day crowing' . They can either dispute the facts with data of their own, or shut-up (I'd take db readings of their yelling as well).

Depends on your chops for action, and whether you `value' the opinion of this neighbor more than you do your chooks.

Can't claim any personal experience in this regard as our closest neighbors are very respectful of our privacy, as we are theirs, seeing as they're all in the graveyard.

Best of luck, regardless!

 

[Hennyhandler]

I wouldn't get rid of them. They are legal and it is your property. They at least should have talked to you responsibly about the problem like adults. A poll of the other neighbors wouldn't be a bad idea but hang in there.

 

[drumstick diva]

I've had personal experience with the evil neighbor type that is harrassing you. IF you get rid of the roos, then he will decide the hens are too smelly, dusty, dirty, rat and predator lures etc. He just has it in for you and nothing is going to satisfy him. I'm guessing he doesn't have a dog so you could complain about that. But he must do something, loud boombox, lawn mower, weed whacker,wild parties, something = maybe tinkers with his car long and loudly. YOu HAVE to find something - his weak spot, bullies hate it when you fight back.

Having said that, I'd keep my chickens locked up safely, and anything else you think he'd bother for spite. Could you move your coop to a site farther from him? Have you ever seen what his property looks like on the otherside of the 6 ft. fence. Send someone up on a ladder to check it out. Maybe you can find some violation in his yard. If you can afford it get motion detector and a game cam to alert you to anyone trespassing on your property - namely him.

Naperville is beautiful and huge, he can find somewhere else to live = maybe some cave. I'm in Willow Springs, my brother in Downers Grove, so we aren't terribly far from you. I used to go to a dentist in Naperville., and Jason's Deli (before they opened some nearer to us). I think it's fantastic that they allow chickens and it's just too darn bad for him. My friend in Countryside, near LaGrange, has been looking for bantams but she wants silkied seramas. But please don't give up your happiness for him, he will never be happy - trust me.

 

[chicknerd]

I agree with spuredon. Collect as much data as possible to show you are doing everything right and the birds are not making noise all day. I had a Great Pyr who used to get called on all the time, even when it wasn't her for barking. The cops would come and of course she would bark at them - so guilty. The neighbor who complained was always anonymous and we had a hard time finding out who it was. One night at 1AM I got a call from the cops telling me to bring my dog inside. She was already asleep on the floor, next to me inside. The dispatcher even asked me if I was sure my dog was in!

There were more incidents but again we were able to prove with evidence that it wasn't always our dog. The chief of police made a visit to our house due to a complaint, spent some time with the dog (who loved her) and told us that no one would come to the house again until the anonymous complainer would give their name. That ended everything.

My point is, having proof and evidence may get animal control on your side.

Deb

 

[Mrs. Feathers]

Quote:
Get peacocks...trust me they are really noisy and obnoxious.

 

[flakey chick]

I wouldn't get rid of them unless you were concerned about their safety (e.g. afraid the neighbor would throw poison over the fence). When he asks what you are going to do about the noise, tell him something along the lines

- You will keep them in the coop between the hours of ___ and ___ .
- You will add an additional privacy screen to reduce the noise.
- You will get a barking dog to drown out the crows.
- You have already made all the noise abatement measures you plan to and would he please limit his yelling as you find that noise disturbing.

 

[hearthnsoul]

At the most I would rehome the roo, at a minimum I would stick out my tongue at said neighbor. No actually i wouldn't to be honest, I would go have a nice sit down with them with eggs in hand. Neighborhood relationships are important, I find it very difficult for neighbors to go at it when you have a sit down and discuss,..if he is still a wanker, stick out the tongue

 

[McCash40]

When I was 35, I would have said, "To h#@* with you." Now at 70, I would probably get rid of the roo. You don't really need one to have a good egg supply.