~ Retired and Starting My Future In The Foothills ~

[Buugette]

Hope all is well.

 

[SillyChicken]

Well, if this don't beat all! It's been fun reading about your progress and all.. and now this?

Glad to see you had something in writing, this makes the realitor accountable. You bet your boots they're going to have to do something to help fix this for you, or they will end up being liable for it... meaning owing you some major money.

In the mean time.... you should really consider getting a big dog. a Rottie or a Cane Corso.... something with presence! (and a game or video cam) and, it wouldn't hurt for you to have a varmit gun... 20 ga maybe.... just sayin! Apparently, you have a bad seed in the neighborhood.

You must put up no tresspassing signs because a tresspassing charge won't hold up in court at all if you haven't done your due dilligance, i.e. telling people they're not allowed there.

 

[HHandbasket]

The real estate agent who is helping Linda with this has a lot of clout up here… her son is the county Sheriff, and her family owns thousands of acres up here, a winery, a gourmet bakery, a restaurant.... and there ain't but a handful of businesses up here. The mere mention of that last name does command a certain amount of respect in this county/community.

At this point, we are pretty sure we know who the dirty rat is that filed the complaint. An older fellow, known as the neighborhood drunk. I believe the descripton is, "He's a really, really nice guy except when he's drunk, and he's drunk a LOT."

For the time being, I know Linda is commencing to finish moving the rest of her flock to her new house. We are planning to get the rest of them on Saturday, including the cayugas and the call ducks.

If it does turn out that Linda is in violation of county codes and cannot buy a parcel of land from the neighbor in back of her, the real estate agent will have to buy the property back from her and reimburse her for all the $$$ she has dumped into it to make it liveable. She is appealing it at this time, and the appeals process takes a long time. I think it'll be at least a couple of months before the final word/full resolution comes down on this situation.

I hope HOPE HOPE it turns out in Linda's favor.

 

[SillyChicken]

Me too!

 

[Buugette]

Quote:
Linda... Keep you receipts...

I have a feeling the real estate agent can cause enough fuss that the ordinance gets changed... but it is good to know that she does have the right to have the property purchased back and reimbursed for all the money she put into the place. Other than MAJOR inconvenience... she won't lose her money or her flock. So sad that someone with the most innocent of intentions is having to deal with all this BS.

HHandbasket, You are a good friend to Linda

We are all here for you Linda...

 

[gryeyes]

Well, no real news on the "violating ordinance" front. My real estate broker wants to see the letter I was given, and she asked me to drop it off at her house this weekend. I'm picking up my mail this evening and if there is anything else, like the citation (the letter I have is a courtesy letter) the code enforcement officer warned would be sent, I'm gonna give that to her too.

This evening is the chicken gathering trip for the rest of the flock. Well, minus the ducks, as I think those six need a special trip all their own. Perhaps Sunday evening (I have Monday off).

The relocated flock members have been ranging freely for a few days. Everybody, even Kate and Angus the geese go into the coop at night before the auto door closes.

A couple of nights ago, I took a carton of 18 eggs to the retired couple's house next door. They're the closest to the coop and where most of the flock hangs out, so they are most impacted by rooster crow-feasts. Two other neighbors were present on their deck with them, the "suspect" neighbor and one of the owners of property adjacent to and "behind" mine. The driveway up to the house is VERY steep, and I was huffing and puffing when I got up there with my gift of colorful eggs.

They pulled out a chair for me and the lady off the house brought me a large glass of iced water (I turned down the offer of an alcoholic beverage). We spent a good 30 minutes or so, just chatting about my chickens. I did not tip to having ANY problems or mention code enforcement at all. Yes, the retired couple had been bothered by the roosters the first couple of nights, but "it's not been so bad the last two days.". The neighbor from behind my property interjected, "Oh, it's early yet, they're getting used to where they live. You won't even notice them in a couple of months, trust me. You'll get used to them and sleep through it. Honest."

That was nice of him to say. He also said he would get my number later, as he'd buy a dozen eggs a week from me.

The "suspect," visiting neighbor indicated his grandmother had chickens, and a "mean rooster" his grandfather hot when it attacked her. He also said the roosters would get louder this weekend, because the moon is full on Saturday.

Oh, really? Hmmm. I was asked if the roosters were kept in the coop at night; yes. They all said the black one was gorgeous. I told them that was Bartholomew, and all the chickens have names. I explained that one bantam Cochin rooster was being a real jerk right now, picking on other roosters in the re-ordering of the pecking order. Carl, Bart, Frick, and the geese kick his butt, but the others are being mercilessly chaes and attacked.

You have three roosters, right?

"No, I have eight. I want to be a good neighbor, so PLEASE let me know if it's too much to deal with after a while."

Mrs. Retiree said she would give it a little longer, but she really appreciated my saying that.

We parted on pleasant terms (she insisted I take the glass of water with me and return the glass some other time) as HHandbasket
arrived for a shopping excursion and everybody said good-bye, with the Behind Me neighbor reminding me he wanted a dozen eggs a week. You betcha!

I think it was clever of me not to mention anything about the complaint, although the "Carls" know about it and are upset on my behalf.

On another note, I had a gang of five young chickens come around the house and through the open French doord to nap on a rug just inside the doorway. I'd have taken a picture if they hadn't scattered and run outside when I discovered them.

I have NOT moved my furniture or goods up here yet, just a few things here and there and what I need to wear to work and on the weekends this time of year. Once I have all the fowl in residence, I can stop worrying about them living at the rental property and focus on what I need to do to move what I do want to fill the house. Then what should be donated to the Goodwill, and what needs to be thrown in the trash. THEN break down the ponds, the coop compound, etc.

 

[HighNDryFarm]

Thanks for the update. Sounds like a good neighborly meeting to start. Good luck and I'm rootin' for you!

 

[redhen]

Quote:
Yes, and they were excited to have a chicken neighbor because they themselves have a lovely little flock of Rhode Island reds and black australorps... or maybe they're Jersey giants, I'm not sure because they're still juveniles and only about 4 months old. They themselves have roosters, as well (their lot is >1 acre).

At any rate, when the complaint was made, ONE baby gosling was there and a handful of baby chicks, NO roosters (well, 3-week-old chicks, but those don't really count). There was nothing there crowing, and even the gosling made the most quiet of peeper sounds that you can't hear from the road/outside of her property! And even with the multitude of roosters she has there NOW, you can't even hear them crowing until you walk up the hill and onto her property--with the exception of George, the adorable but completely obnoxious little sebright roo. (She shoulda named him Napoleon.)

Farmer Lew and I are making unannounced, irregularly timed, impromptu visits up to her place during the day while she's at work in Sacramento to see if we can catch anyone messing around on her property.

You're such a good friend to her. Shes a lucky gal to have you.

 

[gryeyes]

Quote:
You're such a good friend to her. Shes a lucky gal to have you.

That's a BIG 10-4!!

She went with me for the chicken grab tonight. We got nine plus 4 chicks. Two hens got away... And the call duck pair FLEW. I mean, up in the air, hovering, and spanning some distance! We couldn't even snag 'em out of the air in flight with the net i bought for the purpose. The four Cayugas are still there, too.

The two left are Emma, a bantam EE, and one of the three Josies (Trader Joe's white leghorn pullets).

The official "must remove the chickens by September 14th" letter was in my mail, threatening misdemeanor citation otherwise. That will also be delivered to my real estate broker tomorrow.

Keep yer fingers crossed. 'Cause I aint taking these chickens back to the rental house down the hill!

 

[maclady]

I hope you get all of this fixed sooner rather than later. I know how much stress stuff like this can cause. Thank you for the update. I can almost picture the duck capture attempt with a net and them flying around. I think your neighborly delivery of eggs was perfect. Sounds like you do have good neighbors for the most part. Hope you have a good week.