Jerky neighbor...

[MeepBeep]

I am definitely shopping for a shrubbery/plant barrier for this summer for sure, it's just a matter of figuring out what will grow best/fastest in that gap. It creeps me out that he has nothing better to do than stand in his backyard taking pictures of mine.  

Bamboo is the fastest growing, but check your state laws on what varieties are legal most states have several varieties listed as noxious weeds or invasive species... Also consider 'clumping' bamboo vs 'running' or else you will be overrun... Or if you like to rub it in as some people just can never be pleased or dealt with, rent a trencher and cutting an 18" deep trench about 1 foot on your side of the property line and drop in some 24" aluminum flashing to create a wall 18" under ground and about 6" above ground (edge with landscape timbers to hide aluminum) then plant running bamboo between that barrier wall and your fence, sit back and enjoy the show as the bamboo runs into his yard...

Butterfly bushes are another fast growing option, I had considered tilling under all the grass in my front yard and planting only butterfly bushes when I lived in a neighborhood with a busy body neighbor liked reporting everyone that dared skip a week of mowing...

 

[ejcrist]

I know him well. He is a control freak who tried to prevent me from having chickens in the first place because (quote) "How do I know you know anything about animal husbandry?" and "You should have talked to me first." He is the guy who has to hire someone to screw in a lightbulb for him (i.e. he knows NOTHING about "animal husbandry" or anything else) and for the last ten years he has seethed with envy over every home project my husband and I have been able to DIY. That's who he is, so basically it drives him nuts that we've got this cool thing happening in our backyard that everyone thinks is cool and prompts compliments from everyone who sees it (our setup is really lovely-- the coop and small run resemble a house with attached gazebo). Yeah, this is not a matter of reasoning with him, it's a matter of hoping that no one would see things his way.

I am definitely shopping for a shrubbery/plant barrier for this summer for sure, it's just a matter of figuring out what will grow best/fastest in that gap. It creeps me out that he has nothing better to do than stand in his backyard taking pictures of mine.

Oh yeah, I've had encounters with people just like that many times. When we lived at our first house we had a lady neighbor that was all too proud to know everyone's business and couldn't stand to see anyone else put anything nice on their property. She complained about my vegetable garden, my modular garage, and anything she could. We had a hurricane pass through and it downed the power pole behind her yard so I ran a temporary wire setup to her house power since our power wasn't affected (I worked for the local utility). She wasn't any nicer afterwards though because the utility had to drive a truck in my yard to set the new pole and cracked up my walkway, and when I filed a claim she said the sidewalk was already like that even though it wasn't. She even had a survey done because she thought the fence (her fence) that separated our two properties should have been a few inches more on my side. Some people just don't have anything better to do and want everyone else to be as miserable as they are. I had a couple of neighbors like that over the years so I moved to as big a property as we could swing for the time being, and now I'm just hangin' in there until we retire and can move out to the country.

Anyway, I'm digressing quite a bit. Yeah, I agree that it wouldn't do any good to try talking to him. I'd just put up a barrier and probably put together a good sized run so you're not violating and ordinances. If you do that he won't be able to see what your gals are doing and even if he complained he wouldn't have any leverage since you'd be meeting all the requirements. I'm sorry you have to live next to a guy like that. Don't let yourself fall into the same misery trap as him though because if it wasn't your hens it'd be something else. I do know how you feel though. That fella needs to be worked over by a good, ****** off rooster.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

What if you built a little chicken tractor. Put the girls in it when you are in the yard and periodically move it to fresh ground.

Just a thought....

 

[Cindy in PA]

Please don't plant bamboo or any other of the thousands of invasive plants found at nurseries. Our fields and forests are already clogged with cute little invasives that started out in someone backyard!

 

[ChickenBiffer]

Don't worry! No, I had a good chuckle about the bamboo suggestion but I would never do something that vicious. Just yesterday I planted two snowflake mock orange shrubs which will grow up to 6 feet and have white blooms (smell like oranges). I will patiently wait for these to grow and hope Mr. Creepy McCreepy gets the hint that he should keep his mind (and eyes) on his own yard, not mine. He can live on a hair trigger and flip his lid if my chickens ever set foot on his property-- that's fine, I'm watching them so it won't happen-- but the obsession with the chickens when they are on MY property is what pisses me off.

 

[trudyg]

You can get those t-posts at Tractor Supply and some of the bird netting--all for less than $100. Put in the posts ( you just step on the thing to mash them in), then hook the netting onto the prongs. Simple fence that they won't get through, esp when you're watching them. Easy to put up, move, and take down. be proactive--if animal control comes out and see it, they'll know you have it under control.