Neighbors complaining

[newchknmama]

Hello all! I have a predicament. About 2.5 years ago, i got 7 fuzzy chicks.. We have had them in the backyard this whole time. I lost one this summer to heat stroke so we are down to 6.
My next door neighbors have now complained to the HOA and the city about both the number I have (once they told them we have over 20), the smell, which is hardly noticable, and the noise, which hasn't changed in 2 years. When I had the chickens the first year, she told me once that she loved seeing and hearing them, it reminded them of her living on a farm as a kid. I have even given her eggs.
Our HOA limits the animals to 4 per residence, I have 7 because we have a dog, and that the enclosure be off the fence. I am willing to move the coop and reduce the number we own to adhere to code. Im worried the neighbors will still complain about the noise.

It upsets me as they really are pets, and we are a large family of 7 and three chickens aren't going to supply nearly enough eggs for us.
We feel this stems from this particular neighbors husband having been in an accident a little over a year ago and had a brain anyurism and he doesn't work now. He is home more during the day so probably notices it more. I don't want to rehome all of the chickens, and we can't really move at this time. I don't want to be breaking the law and it wasnt an issue before because no one had a problem before hand.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

PS I have no roosters.

 

[4 the Birds]

It is too bad that your neighbor has become bitter from his woes. I am sure that he feels that any chicken sounds are giving him stress. Neighbor wars can often be nasty as people way exaggerate and lie to bolster their argument. HOA's can be brutal with rules and there is not much you can do if they have a set number of pets/animals allowed. I once lived in a condo many years ago that required a submission and approval by the HOA board to even plant a few flowers! I suppose that you could relocate your coop on to the other side of the yard from "the nasty neighbor" and even add a privacy fence. The best way to handle these things is to talk to the neighbor face to face to work out a solution. Often times... people can be nasty when hidden or behind closed doors but not so tuff when they deal with people in person.