How much would my neighbors really hate me?

[mrbstephens]

I live on a 1/2 acre lot and everyone else on my road lives on a 1/2 acre lot similar to mine. I have neighbors on either side of me, across the street and even a flag lot behind me. I have 6 11 week old chicks and AT LEAST one of them is a rooster. I told my neighbors that I was getting chickens before I bought them as a courtesy to them and in the same breath I promised I wouldn't have any roosters. They all gave a sigh of relief and one even thanked me for that. Well, they are not aware of the fact that AT LEAST one of them is a rooster. I should add that the neighbor in the flag lot behind me has a dog that barks continuously almost all day long. This is both loud and irritating, but after 5 years I've gotten more used to it. So, how much do you think my neighbors would hate me if suddenly one day they heard a cock-a-doodle-doo coming from my yard? I'm not ready to part with my roo(s), although I know in my heart that the longer I wait the less likely I am to part with him/them.

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

Well this is a toughy...

While your neighbors dog might be barking his head off all day long for the last 5 years, two wrongs don't make a right and often escalate things.

You're also going to jeperodize any trust your neighbors had in you as a person if you told them from the get go that you would not have Roosters.

The lastly, it comes down to whether Roosters are legal in your area.

If they aren't and you have already told these people that you will not have them, they they will likely complain and you be forced to get rid of them anyway.

If you're word means nothing to you and you really want to keep them, are legally allowed to, and just don't give a crud what they think of you then by all means go on and keep them.

 

[ChicknJ]

Are you allowed to have chickens where you are? Are hens and Roos allowed? If you are trying to fly under the radar, the roo won't help you out. If you are allowed to keep your roo, maybe just keep one. If you have more than one, they always seem to want to out-crow each other. With only one, it shouldn't be that aggravating to anyone. Certainly less aggravating than the incessant barking.

Good luck

 

[imfowl]

I live in the exact format that you described, ecxept our lots are probally smaller than a half acre. I have a huge langshan roo, and you cant hardly hear him when you are inside. Besides, roosters crow in the morning when you should be waking up anyway, unlike agravating dogs that bark all night at nothing.

 

[mrbstephens]

Well, my neighbor with the barking dog is actually quite excited about the fact that I have chickens and she knows that her dog barks constantly and that it annoys me, but we don't have any hat toward each other. Our kids play together sometimes too. It's actually my other neighbors I'm worried about, but they all know that I'm a wacko and wouldn't be surprised. I just don't want them to HATE me. I believe it's legal to have chickens here, because I know many many many people who have them here and actually have a lot more than I do. I don't believe that's it's illegal to have a rooster. Years back I used to hear one that must've lived a road over from me. I've never heard that they were illegal, but I'm not 100% on that.

 

[Casey3043]

I live in a rural area with no restrictions. Everyone has 3 to 5 acres or more. When I got my first chickens two years ago, I did tell the neighbor on one side that I wasn't getting any roosters, and his response was, "You GOTTA have roosters! They're cool!" I said no, I didn't want to disturb anyone, including myself. The people on the other side are not friendly, not unfriendly. It's just a woman and her 19 year old daughter. The husband left a year or so ago. They just don't ever come out and talk. In the nine years I've lived here, I've talked with her 3 or 4 times. I have given them eggs and veggies from the garden, which they seem to appreciate, but they never reciprocate. Did I mention that they have 3 dogs, two of whom bark almost continuously? I have tried to make friends with the dogs, thinking that if they could get it through their pea-brains that I LIVE here, and that I'm going to be out walking around from time to time, they would give up the barking every time they see me outside, but so far common sense hasn't penetrated their thick skulls.

Anyway, my new batch of chicks are all pullets too, but I am seriously thinking of getting a roo, maybe next year when I order some new chicks. I don't want to take on a problem, or get myself in a situation where I have to kill (or as you all so kindly put it, cull) a bird.

So I am of mixed feelings about it. With the windows closed, you can't even hear sirens on the nearby county road, so I don't think it would be a huge disturbance to anyone. I love the sound of a rooster crowing!

 

[BluegrassSeramas]

Quote:
But......Some crow ALLLLLL the time.

 

[mrbstephens]

Oh, forgot to mention that my husband said, "no way! We are not keeping a rooster!" But then again he also said "no way! We are not getting chickens!"

 

[redhen]

If you are legal to keep roo's i would do what i wanted..its your property. BUT..i would also give my neighbors free eggs sometimes also..

 

[mrbstephens]

Yeah! Who could pass up free fresh eggs?! Great idea!