Someone keeps making complaints about my chickens! (Update post #222!)

[Andora]

I'm still trying to decide what to do.

I think it's funny that as soon as we get things settled with the code enforcers she suddenly sends me an email. Do you think that's a coincidence? I really wonder if she tried to file another false complaint and they wouldn't accept it.

It's also humorous that she sort of nicely says to please contain my chickens. After all of the false complaints, etc. Gee, why didn't they just knock on my door and say "hey a chicken got in our yard and we don't like it...can you make sure it doesn't happen again?"

Probably because it never happened in the first place. I think I have a new idea of which neighbor this might be...the neighbors that live on the other side of new neighbor. Gut feeling says it's not new neighbor, especially since she's new to town. She's a middle aged woman who doesn't seem like she would be dumb enough to write rossters instead of roosters, or post about it on cheapcycle--I doubt new neighbor has even had time to find cheapcycle, she hasn't lived in this state for very long at all.

I have a list of several other reasons it might be the neighbors on the other side of new neighbor. DH and I had privately nick named them The White Trash Neighbors a long time ago...based on a the trashy looking friends they always have over in large groups, among many other things. For example the mom pushes the little girl down the street in her stroller while chain smoking. The more I think about it, this totally seems like something they could do.

If it is them, they really can't possibly be THAT bothered by my chickens. I can't see into their yard from my yard hardly, there's very little chance they can see much into my chicken pen unless they go out of their way to peer through the trees...the chicken pen is on the opposite side of my yard as far away from them as it could possibly be.

I guess we'll just carefully watch and wait and see what happens from here. I can't wait until my DH starts his new job in the next few weeks so we can get caught up on bills and get that privacy fence!!

 

[Andora]

Quote:
I wouldn't really put Dufus. I just didn't have a name, and Dufus seemed appropriate.

Haha, I got that. I wouldn't really write Dufus. I do like your letter though...I'll keep it in mind.

 

[fasbendera]

You would be really surprised at how uninformed people are about chickens. Our city just denied a new chicken ordinance (thankfully I am in the neighboring townships so not a city resident). At a party a discussion came up and a lady said I don't want them by me my property values will go down.

I know this person and I said what? I then had a nice chat with her about what a flock of 4 chickens would mean in someones backyard.

People are afraid of what they don't know. Some would expect the white trash to have chickens in their backyard. Until you know play it safe. Keep copies and document, document, document - don't engage.

 

[cphilip]

Quote:
I don't go for that philosophy of not confronting on the slim chance they may be nuts. If they are nuts, I tell them "Oh, YOU are gonna do crazy? Wanna have a crazy-off? I can out crazy your sorry self any day of the week. Bring it on." No one has ever brought it on.

Yup. Nobody ever bothers you if they think you're crazy.

Well you all can do as you please I suppose but thats my advice and its not based on fear of the person its simply based on futility of even bothering with the disturbed. Your simply wasting your time. The fight has been won. At this point the lady has nothing more to say really nor do you.

I wouldn't dignify her question with an answer because, and maybe many of you didn't read this the way it is stated? It is a "Can you quite beating your Wife?" type of question (really its a statement). No matter what your answer is your almost admitting its happening by acknowleding her at all. And potentially giving her something to use later on. You owe her no conversation at all. In fact you owe her a complete snubbing. You owe yourself the peace of never having to deal with her again. Whether she is crazy or is just acting like it is not the point. The point is she is a pain the arse and nobody you want to chit chat with. Be done with her and she will move on to someone else until she runs out of busy body things to do.

She says.... "Can you please do something about your chickens in my yard."

How do you chose to address that if you do decide to respond?

Yes? No? Yes I will do something about it? No I won't do anything about it?

So you want to respond to that statement she made after all this thats a loaded question? And after you have clearly won and don't need to nor have too? Why bother with the nut case? Your not going to cure her. Your just making frustration for yourself. Deal with her only through authorities. That was and still is my advice. Let them be frustrated until they finally close her out. You deserve your break. Take it.

Some people don't think they have lost until they got the last word. I suspect she is one of them. Why spend any of your time on her at all. If you enjoy joisting at windmills go right ahead.

 

[scbatz33]

Question:"Can you please do something about your chickens in my yard?"
Answer: "My chickens are NOT in your yard. They NEVER were in your yard. They are and always will be contained in my yard where the law says I'm allowed to have them.

Can you please stop filing false reports with the city? Can you please stop lying and wasting everyone's time?

And I do agree with Horsejody. I'd reply very kindly to the email letting them know you've spoken to CE and you are perfectly and completely with in the law with your chickens. Further, if they continue to file false reports, you will get an attorney and you will sue the pants off of them since you are incomplete compliance with the law. And, you would be more than happy to provide them with a copy of said law for their reference.

I can't stand people who lie.

 

[KDbeads]

Just to be a real stick in the mud...... is there someone else out there with chickens that could be getting into her yard? Are you positive you are the only person who has chickens? Could there be stray chickens??

 

[ScoobyRoo]

Quote:
Yup. Nobody ever bothers you if they think you're crazy.

Well you all can do as you please I suppose but thats my advice and its not based on fear of the person its simply based on futility of even bothering with the disturbed. Your simply wasting your time. The fight has been won. At this point the lady has nothing more to say really nor do you.

I wouldn't dignify her question with an answer because, and maybe many of you didn't read this the way it is stated? It is a "Can you quite beating your Wife?" type of question (really its a statement). No matter what your answer is your almost admitting its happening by acknowleding her at all. And potentially giving her something to use later on. You owe her no conversation at all. In fact you owe her a complete snubbing. You owe yourself the peace of never having to deal with her again. Whether she is crazy or is just acting like it is not the point. The point is she is a pain the arse and nobody you want to chit chat with. Be done with her and she will move on to someone else until she runs out of busy body things to do.

She says.... "Can you please do something about your chickens in my yard."

How do you chose to address that if you do decide to respond?

Yes? No? Yes I will do something about it? No I won't do anything about it?

So you want to respond to that statement she made after all this thats a loaded question? And after you have clearly won and don't need to nor have too? Why bother with the nut case? Your not going to cure her. Your just making frustration for yourself. Deal with her only through authorities. That was and still is my advice. Let them be frustrated until they finally close her out. You deserve your break. Take it.

Some people don't think they have lost until they got the last word. I suspect she is one of them. Why spend any of your time on her at all. If you enjoy joisting at windmills go right ahead.

cphilip, I agree with you. Why add fuel to the fire just to act 'crazier' than your opponent?? I myself would not stoop to thier level. Does that make me better? No, it makes me smarter and act like a grown-up instead of a immature child throwing a tantrum.
Andora, I think you have class and have done well through out the situation. But like I mentioned before, I doubt you have heard the end of it.

good luck.

 

[Eggs4Sale]

Before kids and hubby, I was as pathetic as your neighbor, conspiring and scheming and finding drama where there was none. My co-conspirator was my sister. I had kids and grew up. My sister never had kids, and behaves the same way still. My aunt never had kids and behaves the same way. They have SO much more free time than me, and they have time to ponder things. I can barely remember where the hairbrush is.

Since your neighbor has much more free time than you, and her 'friend' does, too, and they sound a little unhinged, I too am worried they will take this a step further than you anticipated.
Avoid the dialogue of e-mails, and save everything you receive to hard drive. This has been a game to them, and it will continue to be a game. The 'friend' will likely do ANYTHING for her. They think they are righteous and brilliant. If there is another complaint, ask the supervisor what he thinks you should do.

Your best defense, both legally and for safety, is to put up a camera aimed toward her fence. Don't try to hide it.

(Disclaimer: This is not saying all childless people are bored, nor are all childed people insane)

 

[jerseygirl1]

Andora, I think it is unanimous, your neighbors are going to try and do anything evil - please, please document everything and save everything, print it out, save it to your hard drive, keep a notebook on whatever is said, emailed or photgraphed. For your own protection

 

[lorrir]

I think you need to charge your neighbor for the free fertilizer your chickens are leaving.