Neighbor hates my chickens- will she do them harm?

[Blooie]

Thank you for all the encouraging words! Spock is the best. June 5th is the date of the Zoning Commission meeting where we apply for our 8 foot fence zoning exception... and where all the things she has done to us become public record as part of our application!

DH called the police as soon as he got home when he saw how upset I was. A nice state trooper came and the music was still cranking. He was sympathetic and after he talked to DH he said he was going over to issue them a written warning for disturbing the peace. He said that it would be on file at the State Troopers office. We will pick up a copy for the Zoning commission meeting. He also said that the next time he comes out (if) he will give them a citation for disturbing the peace. After he left... they turned up the music again for like 10 minutes. I made a note of it in my "music log". But I am not playing that game. I imagine that what they will do is play games with the music now.... but the trooper gave me his direct line and told me to leave him a voice mail if they played it again. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted. I don't know what is going to happen now. But I do know that tonight... it will be quiet.... except for Spock! (I hope).

Oh... and the neighbor from across the street who complained to me about crazy lady's noise (told me she loved my rooster) drove by after the trooper left and waved at me so enthusiastically I thought she was going to crash her car.

What a coincidence! I waved so enthusiastically at you that I almost fell off my computer chair!

 

[TheSitcomGirls]

What a coincidence! I waved so enthusiastically at you that I almost fell off my computer chair!

 

[aart]

Thank you for all the encouraging words! Spock is the best. June 5th is the date of the Zoning Commission meeting where we apply for our 8 foot fence zoning exception... and where all the things she has done to us become public record as part of our application!

DH called the police as soon as he got home when he saw how upset I was. A nice state trooper came and the music was still cranking. He was sympathetic and after he talked to DH he said he was going over to issue them a written warning for disturbing the peace. He said that it would be on file at the State Troopers office. We will pick up a copy for the Zoning commission meeting. He also said that the next time he comes out (if) he will give them a citation for disturbing the peace. After he left... they turned up the music again for like 10 minutes. I made a note of it in my "music log". But I am not playing that game. I imagine that what they will do is play games with the music now.... but the trooper gave me his direct line and told me to leave him a voice mail if they played it again. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted. I don't know what is going to happen now. But I do know that tonight... it will be quiet.... except for Spock! (I hope).

Oh... and the neighbor from across the street who complained to me about crazy lady's noise (told me she loved my rooster) drove by after the trooper left and waved at me so enthusiastically I thought she was going to crash her car.

That's great news!

It's best to not react directly at them, which is exactly what they want and will only deepen your own anger, but quietly reporting or at least recording every instance of aberrant behavior....then bite a pillow and scream if you need to release tension.

Cheering but staying firmly upon my chair.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

What a coincidence!  I waved so enthusiastically  at you that I almost fell off my computer chair!

You are too cute and witty for words. I WISH you lived next door!

 

[cowhlb]

This is Spock:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/777222/this-has-to-be-a-rooster-right/10

And yes he turned out to be a Golden Campine rooster. At almost 6 months of age he is pretty loud now. My house is 100 ft from the coop and with the windows closed I can hear him when he crows, in or outside of the coop. It is not loud enough to wake me up. He crows when the sun comes up...8 times. Then again at 7:30 when I let him out, then usually two or 3 more times during the day- 8 times per event almost always. He seems to be gentle so far. Plus he makes me laugh and I'm keeping him! I lost both my parents this year to cancer and sometimes Spock is the only thing that makes me laugh.

When I decided to keep Spock I told all my surrounding neighbors to come to me if there was an issue and I would try to do something about it. I live in a rural area on 26 acres. I am zoned for Spock, actually I could have a building with 1000 Spocks if I wanted to! But I just have 23 hens and Spock. They have a coop inside a stone building with an attached pasture area about 100' by 100' that is fenced with a 6 foot fence on 3 sides then 5 foot on the horse pasture side.

Up until 2 weeks ago no one had complained. But my crazy neighbor whose house is 150 feet from Spock's coop did do various things to try to annoy me instead. I ignored her. Then she went and complained to the town. They ignored her. So then she finally complained to me in person. Told me I needed to lock my rooster in the coop because her daughter (20 year old...) was going to need to open her window at night in a couple of months and 7:30 AM was too early for her to be awakened. No please....just a demand....this after she had been purposely annoying me for the very difficult months after my father died. So I said, no. Spock's coop is 125 feet from your house. Their fence is 15 feet from your property line. Spock can be here and he goes outside at 7:30. She said, "But he is really loud." And I said, "Yes he is, bummer huh?" At first I did feel bad, but then I realized that she had tried to torture me for months and I was not going to reward her going to the town or just her bad behavior in general!

Two days after she complained to me she put up a string along her property line and then put several bird feeders as close as she could get to my coop on her side. Presumbly to draw the skunks, possums to my chickens or whatever. But their coop is like Fort Knox-nothing can get in. But I am still concerned because her crazy behavior does seem to be escalating.

Has anyone had a neighbor whose behavior escalated to the point of them harming the chickens? I bought a couple alarms that are for driveways-the kind that will chime in the house. I am going to hook them up to chime if the coop doors are opened. That should protect my chickens at night. I am a very light sleeper and the chime with wake me up but not my husband! Any other suggestions on coop security for hostile neighbors?

Spock at 4-1/2 months....

Lock all the doors and put the key where she would never find it. I would also try to annoy her. lol

 

[cowhlb]

Lock all the doors and put the key where she would never find it. I would also try to annoy her. lol

Oh and he is very beautiful

 

[lovetopaint]

You're right, Spock is the BEST! Go little rooster go!!

So rude! Next time you should invite friends with a sense of humor and start dancing! Like, I mean, ten or so friends!

 

[EmeraldIslander]

Good for you for taking the high road! I am crossing my fingers you get your fencing exemption!

 

[Peeps61]

Nothing worse than a crazy neighbor! My husband had one next to him (before we were married) who would come out and watch and scream anytime he built or repaired anything on his house or property. If she didn't get her way, she'd swear a blue streak, not caring if the children were out or not. She eventually moved and some really nice people moved in. Maybe that will happen soon for you!

 

[DBerryhill]

Good luck tomorrow!!!!!