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

[Anon112]

I'm so glad ya'll think like I do. We have been documenting for over a year and the police are very aware. We have a stalking order in place.

This sounds like a really taxing, upsetting situation and I'm sorry it's happening to you.

I would also preemptive talk to your other neighbors to get them on your side. Bringing some lovely free eggs usually helps!

I agree with this. I think it's likely that most of the neighbors know that this guy is a bit off, but I think that explaining that your rooster is being intentionally provoked and acknowledging that they might be annoyed is a good strategy. Even though I live in a rural area with no rooster restrictions, I still walked around to all of my neighbors to tell them I have roosters and let them know that if they were ever being disturbed, please let me know. I think that the courtesy means a lot to people.

I know it is annoying but if someone was harrasing my chickens I would bring them in my house overnight so your neighbour can shine a light at an empty coop and will end up making a lot more noise trying to get air crow
if you have a dog crate or something similar (or even your bathroom if you don't mind the poo) you could put them in their overnight

I would be more tempted to do this than revamping the coop/run.


Like many others, I find this situation very alarming. I think that modifying the coop feeds into this guy's idea that you are "at war". Even though you are defending your chickens, this man might see it as an escalation. I agree with many posters here that this sounds like a serious mental health issue and unhinged behavior. I realize that these choices might not apply to your situation, but in case they do:
1) You already have your anti-stalking order and court procedures happening. I wonder if your community has any mediation or mental health organizations who might be willing to reach out to this person.
2) It sounds like you are already documenting his behavior. I agree with people who say to consider taking photos or video. You are well within your rights to have a camera pointed out from your house to capture his behavior.
3) I don't know the exact dynamics of your situation and how much your neighborhood sees this guy as a threat. But if there is a neighbor who could act as an ally to you, perhaps they would be willing to speak to him. It might help if it's someone from his demographic (like if he's a white guy in his 60s, finding another white guy in his 60s, if he's an army vet, someone else who's an army vet, etc).

TLDR: I would not go to trouble/expense combating this man's behavior. I would focus instead on documentation and de-escalation, as well as reaching out to neighbors to make them aware of the situation. Honestly, it doesn't sound like this man would think "Oh, the light isn't working anymore. Guess I'll give up!". Seems more like a person who would then escalate to something different and possibly worse.

 

[pugmom94]

I am so sorry this is happening to you. It may be best to call the police each time he comes onto your property to harass your chickens. When you call the police, you can file more reports on him and gather more for your case against him. Also with the loud speakers, you can file a noise complaint as well. Try to document when he is on your property with photos and/or videos. You could also possibly try to get a motion activated sprinkler to chase him off.

I agree with Rose the Legbar. Not only is he harassing your chickens He is bothering you and your neighbors. I hope you get this resolved.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Install exterior home security cameras at every angle all around your house. Sam’s carries the night owl ones that are pretty cheap and have wireless WiFi option. They detect movement and light changes so him being an idiot flashing lights in the middle of the night will show up. I would also get a Ring doorbell camera that points directly out front even showing across the road. Go through the footage every day and cut out the time frames he is on it. Combine all of the footage and store it on an SD disc. When you have multiple incidents documented with footage take it to a local attorney’s office. Most are more than happy to give advice and assess your situation giving you further options. The police seem to be taking their time so take your own personal safety into your own hands. Based off of the behavior that you describe he is without a doubt a Narcissist and escalating which means he has the potential to become even more dangerous. He is trying to make you submit to his power plays through intimidation. I would seriously consider him a threat to your own personal safety and assess your legal options outside of directly dealing with the police. From my own personal experience police tend to take you much more seriously once you have a good lawyer doing the talking for you.

 

[Anon112]

I'm also curious about if this neighbor has a history of harassing others in your neighborhood, or if this is his first time showing this behavior.

I'm also curious (apologies if this was already explained and I missed it) about how this all developed. Did he come to you and tell you he was unhappy about the rooster? Did you learn about his displeasure through the grapevine? Or did he just start up this random harassment out of nowhere?

 

[countryladyNH]

We bought a ginormous black tarp several years ago from a big box discount store for a budget sum (I believe under $50. and it is probably 25 x 25 feet or more. We use it for several purposes, but I think you should think about that solution until the court case is decided. If you put it on the coop roof and let it hang down on one or more sides the black would definitely block out the light. You could just anchor it to the roof with a few large rocks or a few temp nails until your court case is over. Then pull it out from the coop at the bottom, thereby forming a tent shape. Put a few large rocks on the hem to keep it angled out, and anchored on the ground. That way you would have some ventilation. You could then fold it up every morning when you let everyone out. I think that would be your best temp and cheapest solution. This guy is a nutball. I wish you well in your court case.

 

[cundare]

What you need is a powerful car stereo amplifier and some very directional speakers (they're out there), and an old phone that lets you put an MP3 of roosters crowing at high volume.

If that little system was light activated (it's possible, but it might be just as effective to claim that it is and actually sit up and manually turn it on and off) so that every time a light shines into your yard, this one neighbor hears roosters crowing at high volume (other neighbors not so much) for 10 or 20 seconds.

That's what they call negative reinforcement. Works on dogs.

<just kidding, btw -- that might just work, or it might backfire, like something out of an episode of "I Love Lucy"; and if your neighbor, who certainly does sound like he's lacking in impulse control, is a Second Amendment guy, escalation might be a very bad idea, indeed>

 

[Vicker]

What a nut! I wonder if some dark loose-weave cloth covering the vent spaces would block enough light from shining in the coop. I like the idea about reflecting the light back at the nut though.

 

[Nanook33]

I am so sorry this is happening to you. It may be best to call the police each time he comes onto your property to harass your chickens. When you call the police, you can file more reports on him and gather more for your case against him. Also with the loud speakers, you can file a noise complaint as well. Try to document when he is on your property with photos and/or videos. You could also possibly try to get a motion activated sprinkler to chase him off.

Just curious here. Do you live "in the country", zoned agricultural? Do you live in the suburbs where your laws allow chickens? Do you live in a city or built up area & live very close to neighbors? Have you had chickens long enough to be in that "grandfather" clause that pertains to laws? Some people/neighbors are unhappy & complain about things no matter what. However you sound like a concerned neighbor, but you also have a right to have what you want on your own property. A reflective tarp would certainly work for the light & it would also cut down noise from both sides. If all else fails, you might think about earplugs & sunglasses for your rooster. LOL
Seriously, best of luck. I hope you find something that makes everyone happy-especially, the chickens.

 

[Drew Loker]

What you need is a powerful car stereo amplifier and some very directional speakers (they're out there), and an old phone that lets you put an MP3 of roosters crowing at high volume.

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!!!

 

[McChooky]

I've always shone a light around the coop when my dogs sound alerts and its never triggered my rooster and got him to crow.
Can roosters be conditioned to lights ? By the way my rooster Crows automatically every morning around the same time as yours.