My neighbor won’t stop complaining

[Red Horse]

Years ago a friend of mine was in a similar situation. Although it was legal to keep hens in her area, she checked with the surrounding neighbors to make sure no one would take issue. No one did. Months later, one of them filed a complaint with the health department (without ever speaking to her) that her coop was filthy and was causing rodent and odor problems. An inspector came out to find my friend's coop, run and yard immaculate. She had great rodent proof feeders and a deal with an urban farmer to take away soiled bedding so that it never piled up on the property. He gave her the blessing to carry on and that neighbor was cheesed! I know she is only complaining about the noise, but I would make sure you have every single base covered in case she decides to try to get even more petty.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I think feeding them to quiet them is a bad idea. My chickens complain louder if they think they will get treats so feeding them when they make noise might be conditioning them to make more noise. This lady sounds like she's been through a lot recently and isn't handling it well. For whatever reason, obsessing over your chickens is her new job. Have you tried befriending her? It's probably hard and she might be opposed but maybe just asking her how she is a few times will open a door to more meaningful conversation and you can find a resolution that way. If they didn't bother her before then something else is bothering her now and your chickens are just her excuse to let off steam or talk to someone or make herself feel useful. Maybe she just needs a cup of tea and someone to listen.

 

[Animalfisherwoman]

If they aren't noisy except when they lay why chase them with a rake to make them be quiet? Thats the worst time to stress them out is when they're laying.

One chicken starts, they all start. To try to keep HER from starting, I’ll go out there and wave the rake, and they’ll go running into the low bushes.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

If you are legally in the right, and your birds are secure on your property, I recommend two things:

1) ignore neighbor
2) advise them to join an HOA if they want to tell others how to use their property


3) Back up plan. [Extreme] Leave California. NOT for Oregon (particularly Portland area), Washington, Austin or Dallas TX and suburbs), or a few other places - all of which are currently trending in increasingly restrictive policies over personal land use.

 

[Animalfisherwoman]

I think feeding them to quiet them is a bad idea. My chickens complain louder if they think they will get treats so feeding them when they make noise might be conditioning them to make more noise. This lady sounds like she's been through a lot recently and isn't handling it well. For whatever reason, obsessing over your chickens is her new job. Have you tried befriending her? It's probably hard and she might be opposed but maybe just asking her how she is a few times will open a door to more meaningful conversation and you can find a resolution that way. If they didn't bother her before then something else is bothering her now and your chickens are just her excuse to let off steam or talk to someone or make herself feel useful. Maybe she just needs a cup of tea and someone to listen.

I did try befriending her. In fact a couple months ago she was asking us to sign as witnesses for some routine paperwork. Im really sorry I had anything to do with her as she tends to see me as a mark now.

 

[Iluveggers]

Next time the hens start making "too much noise", I'd probably get our my leaf blower or chain saw or tambourines or whatever and hang out right at the property line. See if she prefers the noise from just the hens.

Lol. You could ignore her, as you aren’t doing anything wrong.

You could also play loud music (any genre), all day while the chickens are out so she can’t hear them.

 

[3KillerBs]

No, actually, it’s my going out there and also shaking a rake in their direction, or feeding the, or whatever to induce temporary distraction.

This may actually be inadvertently training them to yell for treats and attention.

It's a common mistake people make with pets in general and birds in particular.

 

[LizGio]

Is their egg song pretty regular? Maybe you could keep them in the house for it and then let them out?

Everyday? That's a bit much.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Everyday? That's a bit much.

Not really. Just let them out an hour later than now. That's what people usually say to do. I don't, but I also don't really care about them being loud in my place

 

[LizGio]

Ask her to donate sound proofing materials to install in your coop if that's where they lay and are singing.