Managing Flock = Managing Neighbors? (Resolution in Post#21)

[RedDrgn]

So yesterday, my DH got home early from work and went over to the neighbor's to see if he could talk with them, get an update on how they were feeling, etc. They weren't home.

However, we were both home and out with the birds last evening, and the husband showed up at our place (he had seen that my DH had been at his place a few hours earlier, because they have cams as well). So we both got to talk with him (which was good).

Anyway, the first thing he did was apologize for coming down last week with the complaints/news and causing us any worries. He said the roo was fine and that whatever we had changed this past week (which was only keeping him in the coop an extra 30 minutes in the morning) was awesome. He said that both wife and kids had slept right through any noise Remy had made all week (because he was up for work also), and that hearing a roo didn't bother him a bit. He also apologized for his kids having made a scene at the fence and said that his youngest (who apparently loves birds) actually really liked the rooster and had taken to randomly yelling "cock-a-doodle-do" while running around the house and yard.

We chatted for about an hour over some beers, and we asked about getting together with them (including wife...who was still nowhere to be found) over the weekend or something. He said he appreciated the offer, but wasn't sure and seemed a bit uncomfortable about it...so we're still confused about the wife. He also told us that her resentment and anger that drove him down to us last week was pretty much entirely due to the pain she was in at the time due to a concussion she had received at work; apparently every little sound of any kind was really grating on her (which I understand, having suffered a concussion myself in the past).

Anyway, he assured us that she was doing well, was fine with the roo, that his kids were fine with the roo, and that he was fine with the roo. We told him our plans for an auto coop door (which we're only waiting to arrive so we can install), told him to let us know if ever they could use eggs, invited them/kids to come down and visit with the chickens/us any time, and offered chicks if they'd want to start their own flock. That lead to some funny stories regarding his childhood on a farm and his altercations with one mean-@$$ rooster. So while he said he'd had his fill of chickens, he asked if we'd mind if they got a goat. We said to go for it and that if he ever needed a goat and/or dog sitter, let us know (we already exchange such services with two of our other neighbors).

So, it's all good. I can finally breath again and really enjoy our flock and Remy's crowing (I really do like it; I know I'm weird) and Remy gets to stay!

tl;dr - Thank you all for your input, ideas, and support! It helped a ton to be able to vent and toss ideas around/e-analyze the situation a few times and stay grounded.

 

[ButchGood]

I'm glad everything worked out for you. I feel the same way about a rooster crowing. I hear them crowing all over my neighborhood, and I smile every time I hear them. I am eagerly awaiting my young ones to start crowing. Plus It will help me get back at my brother-in-law for cutting his grass at nine o'clock at night and disrupting my chicks first night in the coop.

 

[RedDrgn]

I'm glad everything worked out for you. I feel the same way about a rooster crowing. I hear them crowing all over my neighborhood, and I smile every time I hear them. I am eagerly awaiting my young ones to start crowing. Plus It will help me get back at my brother-in-law for cutting his grass at nine o'clock at night and disrupting my chicks first night in the coop.

Hehe! Fairs fair! Ours isn't the only rooster in our neighborhood, but with all of the hills and trees, you can't hear any others where we're located. Buuuuuuut, we're perfectly willing to help populate the community with chicks for anyone who happens to be interested.

 

[la dee da]

That's awesome! I'm so glad it's worked out for you and them

 

[RedDrgn]

That's awesome! I'm so glad it's worked out for you and them

Yeah, and me too! My DH and I really love the bugger and considering having to get rid of him was truly galling. So glad that nightmare is over and I can just go home and enjoy my chickens!

 

[ButchGood]

Managing your neighbors through their children works very well. I have 2 neighbor boys coming by daily. They know how I am, I will not tolerate any shenanigans on my property. I let all the kids cut through my yard, ride bikes, and play on my property, but if I see anyone teasing my animals....Watch Out! Ever since I got chickens 2 boys and one of the boys sisters come by regularly. They love to watch and feed the birds. Both boys have offered their services to me for free. Cut Grass, Feed and water the animals, pull weeds in the garden. For a crotchety old man I must be doing something right. I seem to be managing my neighbors very well. I am blessed to have the neighbors I have. All good hard working folks who are raising their children the right way.

 

[bobbi-j]

Managing your neighbors through their children works very well. I have 2 neighbor boys coming by daily. They know how I am, I will not tolerate any shenanigans on my property. I let all the kids cut through my yard, ride bikes, and play on my property, but if I see anyone teasing my animals....Watch Out! Ever since I got chickens 2 boys and one of the boys sisters come by regularly. They love to watch and feed the birds. Both boys have offered their services to me for free. Cut Grass, Feed and water the animals, pull weeds in the garden. For a crotchety old man I must be doing something right. I seem to be managing my neighbors very well. I am blessed to have the neighbors I have. All good hard working folks who are raising their children the right way.

ButchGood, you're a tough talker, but I think your secret's out. You're like a toasted marshmallow - hard and crusty on the outside, but a big mushball on the inside! My husband is the same way. We have a 1-year old grand-niece and every time he sees her he scowls and growls at her. She just gives him her great big, adoring smile and sits on his lap... I'm glad your neighbor kids like to come over and visit you and your chickens. You are definitely doing something right.

 

[lorain's fids]

That's what I like to hear about......a situation with a happy ending. Glad everything worked out for your family and your Rooster!

 

[speckledhen]

I'm a little more "crotchety" than the rest of the BYC members on this thread. I would have shrugged my shoulders and said,"Sorry" and that would have been that. As for those kids harassing my livestock, well I gotta a crossman 760 bb gun, with about 5 pumps, not enough to break the skin but enough to sting that little a....buttocks. The kids in my neighborhood know how I am, and they still come visit and come see my animals. They even want to help. Their is always that one person in the area, that no matter what you do they will find something to complain about. They are not happy unless they are miserable. I call them Drama junkies. You cant please everyone, so live your life, do what you want in your own backyard as long and don't take others rights to do what they want to do in their backyard. Now if you get an angry mob at your driveway, Then maybe you need to make some changes.

Oh, I'm pretty crotchety, trust me. I just get blasted by some members when I express my opinion on the forum as a member rather than a moderator in regard to predators, LOL.

Posting as a member: Personally, I don't give a flying fig if the neighbors have issue with my few legally kept roosters. I have issue with their racing ATVs, roaring music, gunfire at 11 p.m. (what can they shoot when they can't even see??), and their general noisiness, but I don't complain and neither should they. Seems that it's always the folks with the chickens who must acquiesce just because it involves a chicken, for some bizarre reason.

 

[RedDrgn]

Oh, I'm pretty crotchety, trust me. I just get blasted by some members when I express my opinion on the forum as a member rather than a moderator in regard to predators, LOL.

Posting as a member: Personally, I don't give a flying fig if the neighbors have issue with my few legally kept roosters. I have issue with their racing ATVs, roaring music, gunfire at 11 p.m. (what can they shoot when they can't even see??), and their general noisiness, but I don't complain and neither should they. Seems that it's always the folks with the chickens who must acquiesce just because it involves a chicken, for some bizarre reason.

Funny you should mention ATVs, because we've got those and they are absolutely illegal on all roadways in our area (not that that bothers them one frickin' bit). One of the hubs of ATV activity in our community is actually one of our adjacent neighbors' sons. Of our four adjacent neighbor's, they are the only ones we did not consult with about our decision to get a rooster, because we didn't give a flip what they thought. Between the son disturbing the peace and tearing up our dirt roads to his parents getting drunk and periodically cussing each other out in their yard at the top of their lungs in the middle of the night, our poor roo doesn't stand a chance at competing with them for noise production.