Neighbors and noise

[allpeepedout]

Kudos to you for trying to be cooperative. Sounds like they tried to "hold their tongue" for a whole year, hoping the chickens were a passing fad, so they have tried to accommodate you. About 10-15% of people are highly sensitive to noise, and random loud noise can detract from enjoyment of their yard, ability to entertain, ability to read or concentrate, napping during day, etc. I'd try to get as much detail as possible about what/when the noise is disturbing and attempt to mitigate. I'd move the coop if it is logistically reasonable, try to insulate for sound, and perhaps turn chooks out later in the day if noise is in a.m. Try giving flakes of leafy alfalfa hay to keep them busy and entertained. As someone who lives next to new intrusive mechanical noise exponentially louder than chickens, I can say it's profoundly distressing to not have the peaceful use of your outdoor property. Regardless of ordinances, one can be subject to a nuisance lawsuit, maybe impossible to prove but still unpleasant.

 

[RedDrgn]

If you're within your legal rights and properly keeping your chickens, then...

If you're willing and can spare them, I'd definitely offer the neighbors eggs when you have an abundance.
I'd also stick with your original proposal to move the coop so it's not so close to their house.

Other than that, they'd have to learn to live with it if they were my neighbors. I wouldn't get rid of the chickens. I would be sure to keep up with their care rather meticulously (making sure everything was neat/tidy and odor free), just in case the neighbors decide to try and make trouble and end up accusing mistreatment of the birds or some such nonsense of that sort. If I had a particularly noisy bird, I might try to find a new home for it and/or trade for a quieter one, but it's unlikely.

You can't please everyone all of the time.

As for trying to occupy your birds, putting grass clippings, leaves or anything they can really dig into and scratch about will keep them happy. Throwing handfuls of scratch into the run in the morning and and afternoon also keeps them busy digging about for goodies. A suet cage or other device that you can stuff full of lettuce or other greens/treats for them to peck at through the day may also help. Even bright plastic toys, like cat balls, will intrigue them a bit; just be sure they're large enough that they can't swallow them or any part of them and rotate any such toys out every few days to keep them intrigued.

 

[tabmom2]

If you are not breaking any ordinances or covenant restrictions then I would let it go. If people are offended by chickens being on your property and they dont like it, they have the right to go to the city, or county, and start there, but I can tell you that it will be very dfficult for them to make you get rid of them. I have my babies in a dog pen too. I also quit bribing the neighbors with eggs cause it doesnt work in most cases and you shouldnt have to. If they dont like it, and you moved the pen, there is nothing else to do but let it go. I do totally agree about keeping copies of the ordinances (that you can have how ever many etc...) So you can reassure him that you are not breaking the law, have no intentions to and that you apologize he is offended and leave it at that. Thats all you can do, and thats all I would do.


I would tell him I plan on doing "the chicken thing" as long as I plan on doing the "Eating eggs thing" lol.

 

[Guinea and Chicken raiser]

f*** the stupid neighbors who have a problem with Roosters! they are Roosters, male animals who are necessary for the survival of chicken animals that make chicken meat that many people love to eat.