help! neighbor against us having chickens due to fears..

[Tuli2007]

I am trying to set up a small flock of hens (6 or less) in our Midwestern city, but I have a concerned neighbor. We want to have the run be a dog kennel with an opening into a hen house in our garage. We’ll dig chicken wire into the ground around the coop as extra protection.

My neighbor has this idea in her head that even if we lock the hens up at night and keep the coop really clean, raccoons will come around and possibly attack her dog, who tends to be in an adjacent yard at dusk. We have some raccoons in the area, but not a ton. The edge of our coop will be about 10 feet from the 3.5-foot fence between our yards. This fear seems far-fetched to me, but what do you all think? She’s also concerned about rats. I told her we’d have poison and a bait box on hand in case we have a problem, but she’s not convinced she won’t have a rat problem in her yard. Is there anything I can do to convince her that keeping a few hens is really not that big of a deal? I don’t want her tobe unhappy with us, but I’m not sure of letting her stand in our way if her fears are unfounded. Any thoughts/advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

We have had chickens for a year now. We live in the country and live near a wildlife management area. I have not seen a raccoon yet. As far as rats go. By keeping your coop clean and do not allow excess food to lay around you shouldn't have any problems. I also keep all the extra feeds inside our utility room. It limits my space in there as we also have goats and geese and a horse. They all have their own food and storage bins, But I do not have to worry about attracting rats or mice or other critters. Promise to give her some fresh eggs. Thats what I did to a grumpy neighbor, Now everytime I turn a round shes giving me treats for my grandchildren. Sometimes educating these people helps too
Tell her to check it out on the internet I think she'll be surprised at how many people are opting for their own chickens and the fresh eggs they get.

 

[edbama2]

Sounds like your neighbor is trying to determine what you do. If there are no laws against chickens where you are, then do it. Is the neighbor friendly or is she going to lie and say a coon showed up the first night? When I own my property and am not breaking laws it becomes a matter of tough, go manage your own property. Sorry if this seems rude. She didn't ask you if she could have a dog.

 

[Critter Crazy]

I live out in the country with my flock, surrounded by woods and fields. we have Coyotes, Coons, foxes, possums, foxes ect....I have not had any problems in over in a year since owning my birds. I keep my feed in a sealed bin, in the barn. I have never seen a rat.

As long as you keep the coop clean, and the feed put away. you shouldnt have any problems.

My neighbors love having the birds around,a nd they also love to get the fresh egs. Course my neigbors have to drive, to get to me.

 

[tiffanyh]

I have had my chickens for 2 years in the exat kind of set up in the center of town and have never seen a racoon in the yard.

Rats on the other hand, I just got. My 2 year old like to throw corn to the chickens and of course spill more in the process than the chickens actually get, so for the first time I have/had two rats. I put down poison (which I actually felt bad doing) and they seem to be gone, so sign of them around. But your neighbor doesnt need to know this....

 

[SpottedCrow]

She should actually worry about Coyotes attacking the dog than a Raccoon especially if it's a little yappy dog...In my town/city, a Coyote attacked and killed a 100 pound Rottie.
Raccoons will more likely be found tipping over garbage cans than eating her dog...
As for rats, they shouldn't be a problem if you keep the food cleaned up. I wouldn't suggest using poison because the rats get poisoned, go out looking for water and drop dead in places where the birds can find them.
We get mice, which I take care of with snap traps and a mouse zapper.
Also chicken wire is good for keeping chickens in, but not keeping anything else out. Use welded wire or hardware cloth instead.
Sounds to me like she's making up reasons for her to complain later...if you get on her bad side...

 

[kansas_twister]

when i lived up in montreal we had a woman like that...she was lovinly know as the wicked witch of the east on our street....lol, the best way i can see doing this is.....and it might cost you a bit...but offer to pay for this years shots ...on her dog not her....and a dozen eggs once a week or by weekley.......that way your sort of keeping the peace in some way and her dog does get attack it's some what protected from rabies.........try to be june cleaverish around her...you might get on her good side

 

[kcfuerst]

My first impulse was to say let's put your neighbor in a trap with some rat bait, but maybe I should make nice.

It seems that your neighbor is entirely uneducated about chickens. A raccoon would not purposely attack a dog unless it was cornered. Perhaps she could set out a raccoon trap and get satisfaction out of shooting the thing herself.

Personally I trapped and killed several raccoons in preparation of my chicks' arrival, but now that the chickens are nearly grown and have free run of their territory, I have not had any evidence of a single raccoon in the area....yet. I have a german shepherd who keeps watch and would chase off any varmit that happen by. Her dog should do the same.

I would print out a long list of internet links about chickens and give them to your neighbor and let her do some research on her own. Offering her some eggs now and then would be as kind gesture and hopefully get her off your back. I would also make the 3.5' fence a 6' fence to help thwart her concerns.

 

[Frozen Feathers]

I've never worried about raccoons, and I know we have them. they just aren't interested in the chickens I guess. I've had run ins w/ fox, coyotes, and skunks (I had one sleeping under my coop YIKES!!). Cats take care of mice and never seen any rats.

BTW Chipmunks are the devil!! I had one chew a hole through my grain container, and they don't just take what they can eat. They store it. I was all confused about how I was going through my grain so fast...then I saw a full cheeked chipmunk run out of my garage!

 

[herechickchick]

Quote:
HERE, HERE, I AGREE COMPLETELY! VERY WELL SAID