Neighbor using strobe lights at coop at 5 every morning... remodel fix ideas?

[linguini]

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. We ended up insulating the roof temporarily to help with the noises the neighbor is playing and use a noise maker playing a thunderstorm for background noise. We have covered the ventilation opening with the black fabric for air filters so thank you to whomever gave that idea and we have caulked every opening we could see through and foiled the windows. The guy has actually been up on his roof with a spotlight since we did this and has installed a giant light on the side of his porch to shine on the coop. The only problem we have had was the lights made it appear daylight so my coop door automatically opened. I will tape a box to the front of it so this does not happen at 3am when he decides to hit it with his giant light again. He is in court with the state so cross your fingers he is prosecuted. I have ordered outside tarp/curtains to hang on the outside of the run so I can slide them open and shut if need be so thanks to whomever suggested the tarp. This allows me to open and shut it myself and in case he starts doing something during the day. It has been so nice having so many wonderful ideas.

Yes, they suggested I be prepared for extreme escalation and try not to do anything to provoke him.

Can you set a fixed time for your auto door for opening and closing?

 

[Henny Jenny]

You might want to be careful with the laser idea, here.. my late husband was former military and had a wicked case of PTSD. One of our obnoxious neighbor kids skipped school one day to stay home and play with his dad's laser pistol. Shining a laser at Anyone with mental illness, particularly PTSD brought on by warfare, can end with horrible consequences.

Luckily for the punk neighbor kid, my ex only scared the living bejesus out of him when he got out of his truck in the middle of the road to chase him back into his home. When the kid's parents got home, they were notified.
Come to think of it, they moved not long after that, which was likely a win-win, as our area has a major military presence with massive PTSD cases.
Fourth of July is always stressful around here, but now, thankfully, it's only because of our dogs.

We'll be careful with the lasers. We just installed a very bright motion sensor light so thanks for that. I have never heard of the return flash I would like that. Brilliant ideas. Thank you!

 

[Midnight Maran Momma]

I believe we may have found you a solution!
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CRXVUiZhB/

 

[Richard Mack]

We have a coop and run combo and some very lovely hens and one adorable rooster that are great. We have had them for 3 years now and they are wonderful! We keep them very clean and happy. We have a neighbor that does not want us to have a rooster so he shines a light at our coop every morning between 4:30am and 5:30am to get him to crow in the coop to bother the other neighbors. We are currently going through the court systems so yes he may have some bigger issues.

Here is what I am asking for help with. We built the coop so that the ventilation is the top few inches at the very top of the walls underneath the roof. It would be one thing if it were just a light that was on but he manually flashes a spotlight on and off of the coop every morning. (he can hit three of the four sides with his lights) Sometimes he does it on and off for several hours and he also plays gun shots and acoustic beats, etc from speakers to wake him and get him to crow as well.

While we are waiting for the court system to do it's thing we are trying to come up with a solution to block the light from coming in the coop while keeping the ventilation good for the chickens and keeping the other neighbors happy. (it's not good having a rooster crowing at 4:30 in the dark regardless of the reason, for the neighbors or the chickens). I thought about closing in all but one side of the coop and putting a whirly bird on top of the coop but I'm afraid a light shined on that will also reflect down into the coop. I've considered putting foil on the roof inside between the rafters and tacking it down on the sides but I worry about ventilation and I still believe some light will seep in. I've also considered putting a fan in the top of the coop to help with the noise. I tried a noise maker and put foil on the door but it doesn't help when the light is flashed on the coop ceiling from outside or when his loud speakers are played. I'm considering Rockwool insulation to the ceiling but worry about ventilation. The coop is 10 x 14 and the run is 14 x 30. I'm considering 4 large posts and a reflective tarp at this point but that would be rather expensive. I am an older lady so I want to do it once and I really want my chickens to be safe. Any suggestions?

This may sound extreme but have a friend who your neighbor has never seen before dress up in a suit, coat, tie, sunglasses and knock on the neighbors door and quietly say “Mr. So and so, stop shining a light into your neighbor’s chicken coop”. Then simply walk back to his car, say nothing else, answer no questions and drive away. This approach will completely unnerve your neighbor and stop this foolishness. Don’t be afraid- just do it.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

approach will completely unnerve your neighbor a

That won't always work. I know I've got at least two neighbors that wouldn't sweat someone like that coming and telling them what to do without proof that they actually had the power to be giving orders

 

[eworms]

Are you on good terms with the rest of the neighborhood? Maybe they can file noise complaints against him too? If some jerk were waking up my neighbor's rooster at 4:30 am, I would be calling in a complaint against the instigator, not the rooster owner. If your neighbors are complaining about the guy too, it may help you in court.

 

[FrostRanger]

This may sound extreme but have a friend who your neighbor has never seen before dress up in a suit, coat, tie, sunglasses and knock on the neighbors door and quietly say “Mr. So and so, stop shining a light into your neighbor’s chicken coop”. Then simply walk back to his car, say nothing else, answer no questions and drive away. This approach will completely unnerve your neighbor and stop this foolishness. Don’t be afraid- just do it.

Op has an ongoing legal case against the crazy neighbor so anything that can even be perceived as retaliatory would hurt their case. Not to mention that this likely wouldn't work on that particular neighbor anyways as he's proven that he's completely unhinged

 

[McChooky]

That won't always work. I know I've got at least two neighbors that wouldn't sweat someone like that coming and telling them what to do without proof that they actually had the power to be giving orders

I'd call the cops on anyone who showed up at my house in a suit and sunglasses Thats suspicious in itself

 

[TicaCielo]

We have a coop and run combo and some very lovely hens and one adorable rooster that are great. We have had them for 3 years now and they are wonderful! We keep them very clean and happy. We have a neighbor that does not want us to have a rooster so he shines a light at our coop every morning between 4:30am and 5:30am to get him to crow in the coop to bother the other neighbors. We are currently going through the court systems so yes he may have some bigger issues.

Here is what I am asking for help with. We built the coop so that the ventilation is the top few inches at the very top of the walls underneath the roof. It would be one thing if it were just a light that was on but he manually flashes a spotlight on and off of the coop every morning. (he can hit three of the four sides with his lights) Sometimes he does it on and off for several hours and he also plays gun shots and acoustic beats, etc from speakers to wake him and get him to crow as well.

While we are waiting for the court system to do it's thing we are trying to come up with a solution to block the light from coming in the coop while keeping the ventilation good for the chickens and keeping the other neighbors happy. (it's not good having a rooster crowing at 4:30 in the dark regardless of the reason, for the neighbors or the chickens). I thought about closing in all but one side of the coop and putting a whirly bird on top of the coop but I'm afraid a light shined on that will also reflect down into the coop. I've considered putting foil on the roof inside between the rafters and tacking it down on the sides but I worry about ventilation and I still believe some light will seep in. I've also considered putting a fan in the top of the coop to help with the noise. I tried a noise maker and put foil on the door but it doesn't help when the light is flashed on the coop ceiling from outside or when his loud speakers are played. I'm considering Rockwool insulation to the ceiling but worry about ventilation. The coop is 10 x 14 and the run is 14 x 30. I'm considering 4 large posts and a reflective tarp at this point but that would be rather expensive. I am an older lady so I want to do it once and I really want my chickens to be safe. Any suggestions?

Gosh, I own 10 acres in Colorado in the mountains and since becoming a widow, i've been thinking of selling and moving to Florida to be closer to my family. I wouldn't be able to afford land there close enough to my family to make it worth while my moving there so everyone says I could still have my chickens there. Having neighbors so close and having to go through what you're going through will give me major anxiety. I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. I like the mirror idea.

 

[Bawkbok]

i've been thinking of selling and moving to Florida to be closer to my family.

There is a plethora of homes available currently due to the construction housing boom that hit the state over the last couple of years. Still clearing lots and still building - all day every day all around. Depending on the region you are interested in - north (more consistent rain), central (less consistent rain) and south (hotter than north and more consistent rain) if that's important may hinder or help your gardening / homesteading desires. County restrictions vary widely for livestock in general and chickens specifically - some prohibit roosters, others have no limitations on numbers. Choose an area without any HOAs.
Closer to family is always a good thing. It's a lot warmer here than there and it's flat land. Good luck with your move if that's what you decide. Not all neighbors are as bad as the one described in this thread so don't let that deter you.