My neighbour has complained 😔

[Chicalina]

Why don't you just put a collar on him i did it with mine and it works great it doesn't hurt him

Thanks for the suggestion, but personally I think they are cruel. It would be like not letting my dog run in the fields by tying up one of her legs. I couldn't deny her that sheer joy of being a dog. Same with roosters. Also the constant discomfort and restriction. I can't even wear turtlenecks for that reason!

 

[Nickyplus4kids]

I have my Cockerell in a sound proofed house. He is in an old childrens wooden house and ive lined the inside with housing insulation
I also have an automatic door that does not open till 10am so he sounds more distant when hes crowing

 

[countryladyNH]

Chicalina, PLEASE listen to 'Sierra G.' and keep re-reading her post if necessary! Everything she said is spot on and makes sense. Good luck!

 

[The Tiny Homestead]

I once got a letter from the city saying someone complained because of growth in my front yard. I have hives, so let tansy, goldenrod, milkweed etc, do their thing. I went to city hall, and asked who complained. They wouldn't tell me. I said, if I'm breaking some kind of rule or ordinance, I want you to show it to me. He said I could look them up online. I said if you sent the letter, you show me the ordinance. He pulled out a huge book and thumbed through it, not finding anything, then just said "trim around the plants a little that you want to save and make it look like you did something, and I won't bother you.
I would have gladly spoken to the neighbor who complained, and educated them about pollinators. And sometimes a jar of honey or a few dozen eggs goes a long way towards good relations.

 

[kmfmstar]

Called the police on your hens? That's ridiculous.

Yeah I wouldn't use a crow collar either.

I'm extra pissed off because both sides to me have dogs that bark all day and I've never complained about them. I try to be a good neighbour, taking in parcels, being pleasant, bringing my dogs in if they bark, etc. Why couldn't they just come to me about this, the cowards. My next door neighbour even cut my fence down and burned it and I said I'd replace it, rather than him, just to keep the peace.

Unfortunately, some people dont appreciate peaceable, reasonable people and interpret their decency as wimpiness or fear of them and take advantage. Like the savages they are, they pounce.

i would let it be known next time something comes up that you intend to stand your ground and stop being “nice“. Reasonableness isnt mean, or unneighborly. I wouldve unemotionally told the fence molester that I was expecting a replacement within x amount of time and that I had notified the authorities of the incident, just to have it documented (smiling as well and perhaps with a plate of cookies).

i used to have a neighbor like some of yours, an ex cop. Once he came to my door drunk to complain about some music he heard emanating from my garage. A day, mind you, after his kids and a raft of their friends were riding four wheelers across my back yard all day. Anyway, I told him to leave my property immediately before I call the locals and have him removed. He left, thank god.

i am so sorry for your troubles. Neighbor problems are the worst. In the end, what recourse have you but to move, so trying to keep them at bay is all you can do.

 

[Chicalina]

If you both rent he shouldn't have made any changes without contacting his landlord. If you put up the fence with your landlord's permission you should ask the landlord if he wants to do anything. If it was the landlord's fence you should make sure he knows it wasn't you who removed the fence. If you both have the same landlord you want him on your side. Even if you don't you should make sure yours is in the loop.

I did consult the landlord because I needed to find out who was responsible for the fence that side, me or neighbour. The landlord (public housing) offered to "mediate" between us. I declined because I didn't want to make it into a bigger deal than it was.

 

[Chicalina]

So I have an update.

I have been night boxing the rooster and that is going well. He doesn't like it much but it seems like a fair solution for now, even if only temporary.

I spoke to the Council official today. I now believe I know who complained (not fence burning guy). The official couldn't tell me, but it was unsaid iykwim. Also yesterday I passed the neighbour's house and he was by his front door. I waved a cheery hello and he mumbled and scuttled indoors quite quickly. Ordinarily we would have a nice chat. So I knew it must be him, all embarrassed to talk to me.

Anyway. Council official was really nice. He explained that they look at the context. It is a rural community and they have no problem with me keeping hens or roosters. I do have to take reasonable steps not to cause a noise nuisance though. So location of the coop to adjacent properties etc is a factor, as is how close the houses are to each other and the location itself.

I explained I was trying to rehome him, and he said that was a bit drastic and they would never ask me to get rid of the rooster, but I should take steps to reduce the noise if I could. I explained about putting him in the night box further away in the garage and he said that was perfect!

I also explained that in 15 years I've never had any complaints from the neighbours, and that my chicken keeping predates the neighbours moving in, so I was utterly shocked to find out about this one. He said he was satisfied that I was a good neighbour, reasonable and willing to work with them to find a solution and he would write to the neighbour to tell him they have no problem with me keeping the rooster and that I have taken steps to resolve the issue, so the Council will take no action and he can stfu now. Ok, I added that last bit!

I also asked him to write that the neighbour should just come and talk to me directly if he has any issues, because I'm a decent person and want us all to get along in the village.

He was really nice, and I'm so glad I spoke to him rather than just pinging emails back and forth. He out my mind at rest and I feel like I've had a small victory in winning over the Council!

You catch more flies with honey than vinegar!

I'm going to go talk to the neighbour next and gloat, sorry, smooth the waters, haha, and explain about the box. I shall enjoy being super sweet and pleasant and making him squirm, because the coward obviously thought I'd never realise it was him.

Anonymous keyboard warrior, that is what he is.

What he doesn't know yet is that some of my chicks are boys and I'm planning on keeping one or two. I'll perhaps set up one or more extra night boxes if I think that is feasible long term (just for the summer months). They are teensy tiny banties, so hopefully not loud anyway. Am I asking for trouble? Part of me wants to quietly rebel!

 

[Sierra G]

I did consult the landlord because I needed to find out who was responsible for the fence that side, me or neighbour. The landlord (public housing) offered to "mediate" between us. I declined because I didn't want to make it into a bigger deal than it was.

My concern is that, now that the fence is gone you may be charged for damaging the property. Even if the neighbor took it down if it's on property you're renting public housing may see it as your responsibility. Even if you replace the fence they may still make an issue of it. I'm not sure what your experience with landlords and bureaucracy is like, but mine was never that great when I rented. I wouldn't have been concerned with mediation either if you were willing to replace the fence. But I would have wanted a record of what happen available. And every time your neighbor does something inappropriate I'd find a way to create a record of what happened. Granted, that's all separate from the noise complaint, but it's easier to document things when they happen than it is to find evidence or reliable witnesses months or years later.

Edit: congrats on your success. I'd say given the situation you described some quiet rebellion would be appropriate. ☺

 

[Chicalina]

My concern is that, now that the fence is gone you may be charged for damaging the property. Even if the neighbor took it down if it's on property you're renting public housing may see it as your responsibility. Even if you replace the fence they may still make an issue of it. I'm not sure what your experience with landlords and bureaucracy is like, but mine was never that great when I rented. I wouldn't have been concerned with mediation either if you were willing to replace the fence. But I would have wanted a record of what happen available. And every time your neighbor does something inappropriate I'd find a way to create a record of what happened. Granted, that's all separate from the noise complaint, but it's easier to document things when they happen than it is to find evidence or reliable witnesses months or years later.

You are right. I only need to replace the fence if I move, which I don't intend to. But I do want a new fence there so I'll get round to it. I'll put in an ugly metal one because only the neighbour can see it! I have a hedge there too along the boundary that faces my garden.

I documented it at the time in an email to the landlord, so it is on record that I didn't remove it. I wanted to do that deliberately. Good advice!

 

[aart]

He was really nice, and I'm so glad I spoke to him rather than just pinging emails back and forth. He out my mind at rest and I feel like I've had a small victory in winning over the Council!

Excellent!!

I only need to replace the fence if I move, which I don't intend to. But I do want a new fence there so I'll get round to it.

Isn't it the landlords responsibility to replace the fence, and charge the cost to the tenant that burned it down(destroyed the landlords property)?