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

[Bawkbok]

Oh dear! Did they (law enforcement) offer any suggestions for your safety?

 

[Henny Jenny]

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?

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.

Oh dear! Did they (law enforcement) offer any suggestions for your safety?

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

 

[Henny Jenny]

The most important thing we can do is document, document, document. So we are and we keep insulating, covering and working on blacking out and turning on fans and things so we all can sleep. Little by little we improve our life and the life of our chickens. Thanks to everyone for such great ideas. We will continue to use them.

 

[CoopBoots]

The most important thing we can do is document, document, document. So we are and we keep insulating, covering and working on blacking out and turning on fans and things so we all can sleep. Little by little we improve our life and the life of our chickens. Thanks to everyone for such great ideas. We will continue to use them.

Don't forget increased security for yourselves, as well! Prayers for your safety. This guy sounds like a complete menace, and I'm so sorry you are having to deal with him.

 

[Bawkbok]

"To prepare for extreme escalation" doesn't seem like it adds any value in terms of suggestions for safety of self-protection of your home, property, animals and family.
Up on the roof? That in and of itself seems extreme to me.
I'm sorry you live in such a dangerous environment created by one person. That's craziness.
It sounds like you've gone to significant measures to help your babies feel safe through the night. Taping the auto door is a good idea but it concerns me your chickens might not be able to get out should they want/need to and you'll have to remember to manually remove the tape every morning.
I'm hoping this has a happy resolution for you -- soon.

 

[Chicken Heel]

I'll say it again; this fellow is in dire need of an old fashioned butt whooping.

 

[Nym]

I would be paying the local bikie gang to sort him out.

 

[FrostRanger]

As amusing as some of the ideas are, I agree that it'd be a really, really bad idea to do anything retaliatory or that could be perceived as such due to 1. The fact that it'd make things more difficult since you are pursing legal action against him and 2. this guy is completely unhinged. Someone said this earlier but, if you think he may have a gun, please report it to the police, he's in no state to be trusted with a firearm. I'd also advise to keep a weapon nearby - not necessarily a gun, even a baseball bat will do - and keep your phone charged and nearby at night in case he tries anything and keep documenting everything as you have been. I'll be praying for your safety

 

[Midnight Maran Momma]

Not a bad idea from Cundare…with a very focused megaphone with sound activated speaker. There are also some photography products that flash when a flash is received called a slave. So he flashes you and flashes right back at him.

I think also a 5,000 lumen barn light angled at his property instead of down would shine some light on him. Look at Sam’s for the brightest they have either solar or electric.

I know you don’t want to do anything that results in giving him arguments against you, but I would consider a 50mw green laser (less than $50) shined in just the right spot light to do the trick. Or spend a little more and get a reall bright blue laser. Shoot, even one of the cheapo Christmas laser shows that rotates and throws 5mw low power green and red beams for a LONG distance ought to discourage his nuisance toward you. I shine three at my house at Christmas and the light goes everywhere!!!

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.

 

[Midnight Maran Momma]

Have there been any changes? Any progress with getting him to back down?