- Apr 4, 2009
- 39
- 0
- 32
So, I have 5 hens, and 1 rooster. I have a neighbor that hates my chickens- HATES them.
I have to give her some credit- I do not have the legal amount of acres to own chickens (I have 1, not 6- required in my town). Because of this, I told her that I was getting chickens, last February. She said she had concerns, but would probably be fine with them. By the way, I live in a rural area, 2 people in the surrounding fields have chickens as well.
This summer she repeatedly told me how annoying my roosters were. I listened politely, but as that was all she said, didn't offer up anything else(like wanting us to get rid of them, etc). In September, she told my husband and I that if we didn't get rid of the roosters she would call the town. And that we had until spring to get rid of the chickens, because "they smell" (you know, as well as I do, that chickens can smell- but it is not any worse than a farm smell- which did I mention- we are SURROUNDED by farms).
A week after this occurance, my husband and I got rid of our 4 roosters. In the end of October, one of our hens began crowing. So, we have a rooster. He's loud, and I can see at times, annoying. But he crows most when the neighboring roosters crow back- natural chicken behavior.
TODAY, my neighbor asked to get her house key back (in past years I have house-sat for her). I brought it over, and before I could leave she attacked me with "I dont' mean to be an a******, but what's up with the rooster?" Of course, she was not being polite at this point anymore, so annoyed as I was, I firmly replied "well, we didn't know he was a rooster until recently". She then accused me of buying a rooster to make her angry, and slap her in the face. I told her that this was unfounded, and untrue, and she really shouldn't assume things. She then informed me that she had reported it to the town, and I had to give her a timeline, or they would come to my house (as I'm sure they will). I said "ok". I turned to go, and she again started with how she never wanted to go this far, but thought that I was really rude by keeping a rooster, etc. I told her I had nothing else to say, and turned to leave. As I'm WALKING HOME- she continued to shout at me across her driveway, that she was going to call the town, and that I was going to be in big trouble.
I returned every accusation with a firm but polite (not yelling, no cursing, etc) answer. I just am so frustrated right now- I understand where I am in the wrong (having chickens on not enough property)- but her way of dealing with it is just so messed up. I even asked her if she was threatening me, becuase that was how it felt. Of course she just replied with continued accusations that I bought the rooster and that I should have known it was a rooster (this from a woman who lives in the countryside and thinks chickens are gross.)
I have to give her some credit- I do not have the legal amount of acres to own chickens (I have 1, not 6- required in my town). Because of this, I told her that I was getting chickens, last February. She said she had concerns, but would probably be fine with them. By the way, I live in a rural area, 2 people in the surrounding fields have chickens as well.
This summer she repeatedly told me how annoying my roosters were. I listened politely, but as that was all she said, didn't offer up anything else(like wanting us to get rid of them, etc). In September, she told my husband and I that if we didn't get rid of the roosters she would call the town. And that we had until spring to get rid of the chickens, because "they smell" (you know, as well as I do, that chickens can smell- but it is not any worse than a farm smell- which did I mention- we are SURROUNDED by farms).
A week after this occurance, my husband and I got rid of our 4 roosters. In the end of October, one of our hens began crowing. So, we have a rooster. He's loud, and I can see at times, annoying. But he crows most when the neighboring roosters crow back- natural chicken behavior.
TODAY, my neighbor asked to get her house key back (in past years I have house-sat for her). I brought it over, and before I could leave she attacked me with "I dont' mean to be an a******, but what's up with the rooster?" Of course, she was not being polite at this point anymore, so annoyed as I was, I firmly replied "well, we didn't know he was a rooster until recently". She then accused me of buying a rooster to make her angry, and slap her in the face. I told her that this was unfounded, and untrue, and she really shouldn't assume things. She then informed me that she had reported it to the town, and I had to give her a timeline, or they would come to my house (as I'm sure they will). I said "ok". I turned to go, and she again started with how she never wanted to go this far, but thought that I was really rude by keeping a rooster, etc. I told her I had nothing else to say, and turned to leave. As I'm WALKING HOME- she continued to shout at me across her driveway, that she was going to call the town, and that I was going to be in big trouble.
I returned every accusation with a firm but polite (not yelling, no cursing, etc) answer. I just am so frustrated right now- I understand where I am in the wrong (having chickens on not enough property)- but her way of dealing with it is just so messed up. I even asked her if she was threatening me, becuase that was how it felt. Of course she just replied with continued accusations that I bought the rooster and that I should have known it was a rooster (this from a woman who lives in the countryside and thinks chickens are gross.)
