Neighbor Complaints on Kauai

[igorsMistress]

I understand your feelings and the law is on your side. I would caution you against mailing your neighbor anything or antagonizing him. Don't stoop to his level. Spraying your chickens with a hose isn't going to kill them and I'd hardly call that cruelty to animals.
Since this neighbor is obviously angry, I might have invested in a security camera overlooking where my flock is kept rather than crow collars. Just because the hose bit is minor doesn't mean it won't progress to something more and I'd want evidence for the police. It's more logical to me to get rid of the extra roos and keep hens than the other way around. Good luck.

 

[Mtnboomer]

I understand your feelings and the law is on your side. I would caution you against mailing your neighbor anything or antagonizing him. Don't stoop to his level. Spraying your chickens with a hose isn't going to kill them and I'd hardly call that cruelty to animals.
Since this neighbor is obviously angry, I might have invested in a security camera overlooking where my flock is kept rather than crow collars. Just because the hose bit is minor doesn't mean it won't progress to something more and I'd want evidence for the police. It's more logical to me to get rid of the extra roos and keep hens than the other way around. Good luck.

I would disagree only in that the letter us a paper trail that confirms you had contacted them on this matter. Despite them being next door, mail it certified so that they have to sign for it and keep a copy. Then they can not deny receiving it in court.
Keep it cordial. I do agree thst there is no need to be antagonistic. Simply state you are well within your legal rights and that his behavior is unacceptable. You hope to come to a rational resolution as adults but if the behavior continues you will pursue your own legal actions.

 

[igorsMistress]

I would disagree only in that the letter us a paper trail that confirms you had contacted them on this matter. Despite them being next door, mail it certified so that they have to sign for it and keep a copy. Then they can not deny receiving it in court.
Keep it cordial. I do agree thst there is no need to be antagonistic. Simply state you are well within your legal rights and that his behavior is unacceptable. You hope to come to a rational resolution as adults but if the behavior continues you will pursue your own legal actions.

We can agree to disagree then.

 

[nuthatched]

Can you use an officer, (not your neighbor, I wouldn't drag them in this) and approach him and kindly ask him to stop. I would give away your extra roos, that would help a bit, but in my experience, hens singing the egg song can be noise than a rooster.

 

[chickentenderbunny]

Bad neighbors are the pits.

use a camera (like a game camera or security camera) that can record the intersection of the yards. If the neighbor throws anything or shoots water at your chickens it will be caught On camera. Also document dates and times of his misbehavior. You will need documentation if you press any charges, or escalate the issue in any way. I would not recommend a restraining order unless last resort bc it will likely just escalate the problem bc you are dealing with an irrational person who has proven to be unable/unwilling to control their behavior.

good luck.

Thank you for your advice! I’ll invest in security cameras because I do want some concrete proof besides my word if I do meet up with a police officer to discuss this.

 

[wyoDreamer]

If the harassment continues, document it (date, time, what was said), and then I think I would go to the local police department and ask what they recommend that you do about the neighbor harassing you about the chickens. Show the police your documentation and tell them that all you want is for the harassment to stop and ask what they suggest you do. The police will probably tell you to just ignore the neighbor - so just do that.
Limit your interactions with him directly. Don't give him any ammunition to use against you - like words you may say in the heat of an argument.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Apologies in advance, this might be very long. I’ve had this issue bottled up for so long and I can’t think of any better place to vent about it than here. I’m also very sorry if it gets confusing.

First off, I live on Kauai, Hawaii. This island is well known for wild chickens everywhere.
I have 3 roosters and 5 hens (I know I don’t have enough hens for my roosters but I’ll explain why later). The roosters are kept on one side of the house next to my cat neighbor and I regularly take them out of their cages around 10-11am and put them back in at 6pm to free range. They don’t crow at night, but obviously they’ll start saying something around 5 am.

I have a neighbor on the other side (I’ll refer to him as anti chicken neighbor) who has been complaining and harassing myself and my parents for months about my chickens being too noisy. He has blatantly told my parents that it’s against the law to keep more than 2 and that they’re a disturbance. Because he stated this as a fact, my parents were worried and made me look up our local county laws. When they first told me about this, I thought there is absolutely no way that it’s true. Logically because we live on an island where they are everywhere and many others who live near us have chickens and roosters. If other people can have multiple chickens and roosters, why can’t I? I looked up the Kauai County Code to be sure and of course there is absolutely no law about how many chickens we can/can’t keep as well as the noise they make. Our neighborhood is also not a part of any HOA.

I felt that my family and I did all that we could do. We kept the rooster coops on the opposite side and they have a regulated time when they are let out to free range. We also invested in no crow collars. But even with the collars, our anti chicken neighbor still complains about the noise. One time I caught him shooting water at my chickens when they were ON OUR PROPERTY. I was practically livid when I witnessed the whole thing and when I told my parents about it I found out this was not the only time he’s done it. Can you imagine your neighbor shooting water at your child or your pet dog if they were making noise on your property at a reasonable hour??? He has also called the cops on another neighbor for their dog pooping on his yard so I’m assuming he must have tried calling the cops on us too but they never came by the house. And my cat neighbor i mentioned earlier is married to a police officer. She and her husband has never complained about our chickens even though they’re much closer to the rooster coop. And to be sure, we also personally asked them about it. My cat neighbor knows my beef with anti chicken neighbor and about the water incident. She also told me that there is no law about keeping chickens and the noise they make.

I’m basically at my wits end with my anti chicken neighbor. And I don’t know what else I can do. My parents already rehome a few hens I had but I definitely do not want to give up any more because of him.

Aloha @chickentenderbunny ,
I stay Kekaha. 1st off. I called the planning department (a few years back) and the ordinance is 4 hens, no roos, also coops have to be tractor or get a permit unless you are on ag land. But like you said... this is Kauai... they are literally hanging out in every tree and at every corner, especially if there is food being served. So, I myself promptly ignored all the rules cuz all you really gotta do is shrug your shoulders and point in any direction and say what about them?!!! Also the amount of fighting cocks around is a big joke if they want to have a ordinance... but with that said I would tread lightly legally, it may bite you. Maybe spray him with the water hose, invite all your local friends ova for one big party. Or hand him eggs, say you are sorry and looking for a home for 2 of your roos and just never do it.
It sounds like he is just an a** and just unhappy with himself. Maybe pray for him lol. I had one of those, I prayed for him and he moved Now the whole neighborhood is happier for it. I'm sorry, it's hard.

 

[chickentenderbunny]

Aloha @chickentenderbunny ,
I stay Kekaha. 1st off. I called the planning department (a few years back) and the ordinance is 4 hens, no roos, also coops have to be tractor or get a permit unless you are on ag land. But like you said... this is Kauai... they are literally hanging out in every tree and at every corner, especially if there is food being served. So, I myself promptly ignored all the rules cuz all you really gotta do is shrug your shoulders and point in any direction and say what about them?!!! Also the amount of fighting cocks around is a big joke if they want to have a ordinance... but with that said I would tread lightly legally, it may bite you. Maybe spray him with the water hose, invite all your local friends ova for one big party. Or hand him eggs, say you are sorry and looking for a home for 2 of your roos and just never do it.
It sounds like he is just an a** and just unhappy with himself. Maybe pray for him lol. I had one of those, I prayed for him and he moved Now the whole neighborhood is happier for it. I'm sorry, it's hard.

Omg thank you! Maybe I was looking in the wrong place for that information. But yeah they're literally everywhere... What is he going to do, complain about all of them??? It's so ridiculous.

 

[Laura_BelgianBantams_63]

Uhg. Rude, annoying and especially ANTI-CHICKEN neighbors are super nerve-triggering. I feel ya'. Defaintly document all you can as Mtnboomer said, and search around in local laws, and as every body has said, post the laws to him. Your neighbor sounds pretty bad.

Good luck with this neighbor of yours. Keep the chooks too!

 

[Tterri]

Apologies in advance, this might be very long. I’ve had this issue bottled up for so long and I can’t think of any better place to vent about it than here. I’m also very sorry if it gets confusing.

First off, I live on Kauai, Hawaii. This island is well known for wild chickens everywhere.
I have 3 roosters and 5 hens (I know I don’t have enough hens for my roosters but I’ll explain why later). The roosters are kept on one side of the house next to my cat neighbor and I regularly take them out of their cages around 10-11am and put them back in at 6pm to free range. They don’t crow at night, but obviously they’ll start saying something around 5 am.

I have a neighbor on the other side (I’ll refer to him as anti chicken neighbor) who has been complaining and harassing myself and my parents for months about my chickens being too noisy. He has blatantly told my parents that it’s against the law to keep more than 2 and that they’re a disturbance. Because he stated this as a fact, my parents were worried and made me look up our local county laws. When they first told me about this, I thought there is absolutely no way that it’s true. Logically because we live on an island where they are everywhere and many others who live near us have chickens and roosters. If other people can have multiple chickens and roosters, why can’t I? I looked up the Kauai County Code to be sure and of course there is absolutely no law about how many chickens we can/can’t keep as well as the noise they make. Our neighborhood is also not a part of any HOA.

I felt that my family and I did all that we could do. We kept the rooster coops on the opposite side and they have a regulated time when they are let out to free range. We also invested in no crow collars. But even with the collars, our anti chicken neighbor still complains about the noise. One time I caught him shooting water at my chickens when they were ON OUR PROPERTY. I was practically livid when I witnessed the whole thing and when I told my parents about it I found out this was not the only time he’s done it. Can you imagine your neighbor shooting water at your child or your pet dog if they were making noise on your property at a reasonable hour??? He has also called the cops on another neighbor for their dog pooping on his yard so I’m assuming he must have tried calling the cops on us too but they never came by the house. And my cat neighbor i mentioned earlier is married to a police officer. She and her husband has never complained about our chickens even though they’re much closer to the rooster coop. And to be sure, we also personally asked them about it. My cat neighbor knows my beef with anti chicken neighbor and about the water incident. She also told me that there is no law about keeping chickens and the noise they make.

I’m basically at my wits end with my anti chicken neighbor. And I don’t know what else I can do. My parents already rehome a few hens I had but I definitely do not want to give up any more because of him.