Problems with neighbours - good suggestions?

[mrsdoodle2]

We've kept hens for around 4 years. We used to have 3 birds; now we have 5.

I've checked the paperwork for the property I live in, and it's fine to keep a few hens.

However, one of our neighbours seems intent on trying to make us feel uncomfortable.

When we had 3 hens, they were fairly old and settled into a routine. Over the last couple of years they'd dwindled down to 1, so we purcahsed 4 new hens, which are younger birds. Initally they were establishing a pecking order, and there were a few loud squabbles which we hadn't had with the old hens(now settled, by and large).

However, two are very noisy when they've laid (which is pretty 'normal' hen behaviour) which is usually mid-morning and maybe lasts 10 minutes.

Every couple of days we seem to get one complaint; or another.

They seem to be of the view we should be able to stop the hens from braying

We tried explaining initally that when the new hens were in, there was a bit of noise as they settled to their new homes and this should largely subside (which it has)

Then we've had a complaint that they are too noisy when they lay (I really don't know what I can do about that - but only 3 of them are laying anyway and I can't see how I can stop it, since it's normal for hens to 'crow' once they've laid)

Now I've had a complaint (all from the same person) that apparantly the children (age 14 and 17) were too noisy when they topped up the food and water (which was at 8.15 am, so not mega early and they were only talking)

We don't keep cockerels, and the hen's area already is as far away from the complaining neighbour that we can possibly manage.

Help! anyone got any tips on how to sort it out.

Like I say we've kept hens for several years; we've had the same neighbour for all that time. Nothing much has changed my side, but they do seem intent on escalating matters. What can I do to stop it escalating further?

(I should add we haven't historically got on with them very well, but we've generally kept of of their way and they've kept out of theirs) but this continual complainging about the hens/children in a new thing

 

[PD-Riverman]

You can some-what enclose your nesting box area with a sound deadening wall and tell your kids to be quiet when they are doing their chores. Maybe offer the neighbor a dozen eggs every once in a while Or Move.

 

[ronott1]

We've kept hens for around 4 years. We used to have 3 birds; now we have 5.

I've checked the paperwork for the property I live in, and it's fine to keep a few hens.

However, one of our neighbours seems intent on trying to make us feel uncomfortable.

When we had 3 hens, they were fairly old and settled into a routine. Over the last couple of years they'd dwindled down to 1, so we purcahsed 4 new hens, which are younger birds. Initally they were establishing a pecking order, and there were a few loud squabbles which we hadn't had with the old hens(now settled, by and large).

However, two are very noisy when they've laid (which is pretty 'normal' hen behaviour) which is usually mid-morning and maybe lasts 10 minutes.

Every couple of days we seem to get one complaint; or another.

They seem to be of the view we should be able to stop the hens from braying

We tried explaining initally that when the new hens were in, there was a bit of noise as they settled to their new homes and this should largely subside (which it has)

Then we've had a complaint that they are too noisy when they lay (I really don't know what I can do about that - but only 3 of them are laying anyway and I can't see how I can stop it, since it's normal for hens to 'crow' once they've laid)

Now I've had a complaint (all from the same person) that apparantly the children (age 14 and 17) were too noisy when they topped up the food and water (which was at 8.15 am, so not mega early and they were only talking)

We don't keep cockerels, and the hen's area already is as far away from the complaining neighbour that we can possibly manage.

Help! anyone got any tips on how to sort it out.

Like I say we've kept hens for several years; we've had the same neighbour for all that time. Nothing much has changed my side, but they do seem intent on escalating matters. What can I do to stop it escalating further?

(I should add we haven't historically got on with them very well, but we've generally kept of of their way and they've kept out of theirs) but this continual complainging about the hens/children in a new thing

Hens do not make enough noise during daytime to go over noise ordinances. Construction noise will be higher in decibels. The neighbor had not standing on the noise. If your ordinances allow hens, all the neighbor can do is complain.

Ignore them. Since they are even going after your children, then there may be some mental issues going on with them. If you think they may be dangerous, you might want to inform the authorities. If they are older, then you might want to get elder care involved too.

 

[mrsdoodle2]

The hens bray once they've left the nesting box, so I'm not sure if that will help, but it's not a bad suggestion.

I don't think that the kids were being overly noisy when they did the chores, I've obviously trying to make sure they are as quiet as possible, but in general around here at 8.15 am people are going to work/school/college etc so people are out and about chatting (I'd take their point more if we were talking about before 7am in the morning, but at 8.15 people generally are starting engines/closing doors etc - the normal things of living in a residential area) so talking to each other isn't unreasonable. They did say our kids were 'screaming' but I know they weren't I was there at the time and could see them through the window and they were only chatting

I wouldn't be adverse to offering some eggs, but last time my husband went over (about somthing else) they started pushing him around, so I do try and aviod them as much as possible

 

[eggbert420]

Sound like the kind of people who like to complain. You could get rid of the chickens, the kids could go off to college. They will just find something else to complain about. My advise would be to ignore them.

 

[PD-Riverman]

The hens bray once they've left the nesting box, so I'm not sure if that will help, but it's not a bad suggestion.

I don't think that the kids were being overly noisy when they did the chores, I've obviously trying to make sure they are as quiet as possible, but in general around here at 8.15 am people are going to work/school/college etc so people are out and about chatting (I'd take their point more if we were talking about before 7am in the morning, but at 8.15 people generally are starting engines/closing doors etc - the normal things of living in a residential area) so talking to each other isn't unreasonable. They did say our kids were 'screaming' but I know they weren't I was there at the time and could see them through the window and they were only chatting

I wouldn't be adverse to offering some eggs, but last time my husband went over (about somthing else) they started pushing him around, so I do try and aviod them as much as possible

How do they complain to you----in person? I would just ignore them----they are dealing with a problem. If they are telling you your hens/kids are to noisy----I would just say something right back like I will tell them to quieten down---Thanks! And walk away. I would tell them that every time they say something----unless you don't care to hurt their feelings----if not then you can stir the "pot" by telling to mind their own (blank,blank)business.

 

[PD-Riverman]

The hens bray once they've left the nesting box, so I'm not sure if that will help, but it's not a bad suggestion.

Most of the noise is made in the nesting box area with my chickens, the wall might help by cutting down most of the noise. Can you move your chickens/pen to the other side of the yard---away from them. Some people are night owls---stay up late and sleep in late---might be your neighbors case.

 

[andreanar]

Sounds like there is really nothing you can do, they will complain anyway. If your not breaking any laws, I would just ignore them and go about life. Kids play, scream, that's kids, you cant be expected to walk on eggshells (pun intended LOL) around your own property. Id build a fence between the properties and pretend they didn't exist.

 

[mrsdoodle2]

Most of the noise is made in the nesting box area with my chickens, the wall might help by cutting down most of the noise. Can you move your chickens/pen to the other side of the yard---away from them. Some people are night owls---stay up late and sleep in late---might be your neighbors case.

My hens come out to bray, they tend to come out onto the grass and then go for it. I already have the hens area as far away as I can from their property - it's right up against the fence on the opposite side of my garden from theirs - I can't physically move it any further. They might be night owls, that's their choice. Noise restrictions here run from 11pm at night until 7 am, so we aren't acutally doing anything wrong by being in our own garden after 8am. We leave for school/college/work at 8.20 so we can't leave it much later to do final checks.

 

[mrsdoodle2]

Sounds like there is really nothing you can do, they will complain anyway. If your not breaking any laws, I would just ignore them and go about life. Kids play, scream, that's kids, you cant be expected to walk on eggshells (pun intended LOL) around your own property. Id build a fence between the properties and pretend they didn't exist.

We already have a fence at over 6 foot, I don't know what else we can do