Neighbors and noise

[m.kitchengirl]

Gosh, I would hate to be in your shoes.
The house next door is for sale, so I guess I could be & have been planning for next spring with the assumption the new neighbors will be anti-chicken.

I think that your best bet is to address it head on, go & talk to him (maybe when his wife is there) nicely, and explain that you are in your rights, but willing to see what neighborly arrangements you can work out so you can continue to have a good relationship.

They may not have kids, but maybe if they see how much YOUR kids enjoy the birds they will have a change of heart.
I would also call the town myself & "double check" that you are within your rights. Explain that a neighbor has requested you get rid of them, that you offered to move them farther away, etc.
Sometimes, if the town has an idea someone is unreasonable, if they do call to complain it could impact the town's attitude toward them. No inspector wants to go out there when they KNOW you're not breaking zoning laws, etc. Most people breaking the rules wouldn't call.

I called my town before I got my ducks and chickens, even though I fully understood the rules. Just in case.

 

[annep]

That's amazing that they even asked you to get rid of them..How did they seem to think that it's up to them? My neighbors tolerate our chickens because they know they have no choice..They wont eat eggs unless they come from the store, wont eat fish that's been caught from a river, it has to come prepackaged and gutted...her words..it grosses her out..whatever...

 

[Yetti]

Funny I was just thinking about this subject. I have a few neighbors that do nothing out doors. others have Pigs, goats Chickens and the like. I would laugh at someone right in their face is they told me I couldn't keep my animals. plus I am the only person on my street who spent the money to fence my entire yard (8 acres). even the farmer down the road with 400 chickens doesn't have that.

 

[BlazeJester]

Sounds like he thought this was a phase that would go away. I can understand potential frustration with the girls being on his side (I'm guessing?) of your property, as my girls have always been early risers. However, it also sounds like he thinks he gets a say in your final decision, and that is out of line.

Perhaps he feels like he's your superior being both male and much older, or that you have been compliant to him without conflict and he thinks he can manipulate you to get rid of this "nuisance".

My neighbor paved the way when he got chickens in the spring (mine were a fall batch) but he got rid of his two roosters to be kind to the neighborhood because of complaints (it was a VERY quiet rooster, too!). Chickens are NOT part of our ordinances and since we are a rural area, it's ridiculous to write into the city ordinance that people can't keep livestock (there are cattle farms next to neighborhoods here). I do my part to keep my chickens from bothering the neighbors, but as it stands the landlord agreed to them and they haven't disturbed anyone yet. I've considered where to move the coop if the nearest neighbors have problems with them.

City ordinances that limit to <5 hens or similar are carefully designed to allow people freedom of living style while limiting the impact. I know in my area in metro Atlanta you must keep your livestock housing closer to your house than to your neighbor's and roosters are not allowed because of noise. You have done everything you can to be a good neighbor and it is not your job to bribe with eggs when you are hardly getting any (or not at all). Some people just won't open up to it, though they will not think twice about dogs that yap constantly and have stinky, toxic poop.

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[arcatamarcia]

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Me too.

 

[CheerioLounge]

It's difficult when a good neighbor relationship begins to go sour. I too would move the chickens further from their property, but as long as you are complying with the local ordinances there is nothing else you should have to do. Good Luck!

 

[ChickenMack]

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Totally agree with Cheerio. Move them away from his yard boundary and know you local chicken ordinance. What's next? Your kids are too noisy and he wants you to keep them inside?

 

[kuntrygirl]

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Totally agree with Cheerio. Move them away from his yard boundary and know you local chicken ordinance. What's next? Your kids are too noisy and he wants you to keep them inside?

I was thinking the exact same thing about kids. My neighbor's dogs from time to time have literally barked from 1:00 AM - 5:00 AM and I have gotten about 4 hours of sleep some nights but I never complain or bring it to their attention. For those dogs to bark that long at night, I assume another dog or some predators roaming. It's not often but it does happen. I just deal with it. No biggie. Not their fault. And besides, we have been neighbors for 40 years and neither of us are going anywhere and I'm no about to ruin our "neighborship" over a barking dog every now and then.

 

[Oregon Blues]

I try to be considerate of my neighbors. So I suggest that you move the coop and try to keep the birds quiet in the wee hours of the morning. Keep the run clean so flies are under control and they don't stink.

Other than that, if you are within the law, it is your neighbor's problem for buying in a neighborhood where chickens are legal when he doesn't like chickens.

You are apparently in a residential neighborhood, so probably should make some extra effort to not annoy the neighbors. But there is a limit and getting rid of the chickens isn't going to happen. I wouldn't speak to him about it at all. It's not like you will change his mind and there is no point in getting into an argument.

One thing I would do, though, is see if something has changed. Like if his spouse is facing a life-threatening illness. I still wouldn't get rid of the chickens, but I'd make even more of an effort to control noise if that is the case.

 

[bobbieschicks]

We have a small property and are in a residential area that isn't against chickens, but doesn't have a written poultry law either. If someone near me told me to get rid of our chickens I would have to seriously consider whether their demand was enforceable and from whom the demand was made. People continue to think of our area as "country" so there is some leeway as to what is acceptable in the community even if it's not legal.

That said - you moving your coop is pretty generous as you are completely within your rights to have the coop and chickens. I placed our coop strategically far from the neighbor I figured would be the biggest problem - they have placed bushes on our property however I think they will not cause us any trouble. I do plan to landscape around it soon so that it will be even less visible to the neighborhood and reduce the noise level coming from the coop. Except for the occassional crowing of our rooster and singing of egg laying songs - you can hardly hear the flock. There's a neighbor several streets over who has a bantam rooster and that rooster crows louder and more often then ours.

You could provide the girls more outside "play" things - like stools to stand on or swinging roost bars - or maybe some 2x4s at the corners to hang out on. Give them a tub to dust in and a sand box to peck in. Those things might be enough to keep them occupied. I have some of those hanging suet holders for them to peck at when they get the urge. Hang some treat balls with treats in them. Plant some bushes around the perimeter of the run - just not too close - that will help keep the noise reduced. Maybe some ornamental grass up close to give them something to munch on and keep the noise low.

But really - you don't have to do any of those things if you have a legal right to keep the chicks. It's just being neighborly to try to keep things smoothed out - something your neighbor is trying to take advantage of by insisting you get rid of your girls. I'd probably move the coop if it weren't too much effort - but I certainly would draw the line at his telling you to get rid of the chickens. You don't have to be rude about telling him so - just let him know you acknowledge his feelings and have heard his request and hope he will understand your choice to keep these chickens you have come to love. Then start praying for him!