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

[WingingIt]

If it's any consolation, I'd bet it's dementia, too. We have an 83 year old relative living with us and some days she's, I swear, operating in some other universe than we are. She'll ask about events that 'just' happened, when they DIDN'T happen at all. Yesterday she told me that winter was coming fast because all of the geese and ducks had left. I kid you not, there were probably 80-90 geese out there on the lake by the dock WHEN she said it. If I asked her about that today she'd tell me she didn't say that, I don't know if she really doesn't remember or if embarassed and lies. Either way, some days I'm driven up a wall repeatedly around here. She DOES do things like you're talking about. Stands outside and talks to the neighbors nice as can be and then later that day will tell you how unfriendly they are, how they never speak to her and she's all upset thinking they've decided that they don't like her, they don't take care of their cat, their truck is too dirty, on and on. Then the next time they're outside and see each other she's back to asking about their grandkids and complementing them on their flowers and telling us how great they are. I see the same thing in her complaining about her garden being ruined and yet she's having trouble giving away the massive amount of food she's raised, etc. It could very well be dementia or she could just be a jerk. Either way I'd keep my chickens out of her yard so there's no way she can complain about that at all.

I'd inform the animal control office that you know it's the neighbor in the back, you also know from interacting with her on a regular basis that she's probably facing some dementia issues and that it's been proven time and time again that you ARE in compliance. The issue is with her and her mental facilities and they need to stop harassing you. There has to be a limit to how many times they'll come out there for the same bogus reasons.

 

[redhen]

Its not dementia..they clearly know what they are doing..
Its too bad that they are acting that way. They should have been honest with you from the start. But thats how some folks are... they dont want to make waves or have confrontations...so they do stuff behind your back.
I would find a way so that your chickens cant ever get into her yard again... its only fair.
I'm sorry they let you down by being 2-faced..

 

[sharron]

i read all of the post, so sorry for you, it might be dementia or like another said, two faced, but either way, same outcome BUT i wouldn't let what happened make me give up enjoying my backyard, just go ahead and enjoy it, if the old bat comes out and starts, just ignore her like she wasn't there and as for kenny, same for him, that would get to them more than you trying to talk and calm them down, just pretend they're not even there.
enjoy you chickens and garden.
sharron

 

[chickenzoo]

Get a good fence...... sorry you are having that type of trouble and can't enjoy your own yard.

 

[itsachicken]

I'm leaning more towards the dementia, it almost sounds to me like she's maybe heard somebody spewing vitriol about your chickens for so long that their story has become her own. It's possible that your neighbors didn't have anything to do with the anonymous complaints, perhaps some of their family members made the complaints on their behalf thinking they were protecting the poor senile couple since they didn't see the "dangers" of chickens themselves.

 

[Wifezilla]

Get a fence and enjoy your yard again.

 

[Andora]

Just for the record, my chickens are 100% contained right now and can't get into her yard at all no matter what. (Unless someone lets them out.) They are in dog kennel runs with tarps on the top.

You all are right, it could be elderly dementia or just a case of the elderly living in some alternate universe. That makes sense. I also wonder if medications are playing a role, because she has told me four different times about her blood sugar being out of whack and trying a bunch of different doses (types?) of insulin and how it gives her uncontrollable diarrhea. (My husband was mortified, HAHAHHAHAA!) So anyway, clearly they are not in top medical shape. Her husband also has problems with the artery in his neck and has had heart bypass surgery in the past 5 years.

I do think it was probably a family member doing the complaining for them. I'm not sure if they know about it or if it was just on their behalf. It was definitely a family member making the cheapcycle posts.

I wish I could just go out and get a privacy fence. I don't have any money to spend though.

Anyone want to donate to a paypal fund? LOL. My husband can't put it up by himself either, he's unfortunately not handy and doesn't like working on projects at all. I'm hoping we can get a fence with the no interest for 12 months card from Lowes. We just had to put a couple thousand dollars on a credit card recently, and I hate having any debt. It's taking us forever to pay it off. Once that's paid off then I'm getting the fence!! I just need one strip down the back, not the entire yard. It's only maybe 100 feet? Not too much, and mostly a flat area.

I wish my DH was handy though, there's some nice nice fence on Craigslist. Only $300 for 19 eight foot sections of 3 month old wooden privacy fencing.

Thanks for all of your comments, I feel a little better!

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i'm so sorry this has happened to you. But please don't take it personally. It could be dementia, or just the fact that they are older and raised different. My mother would never talk bad to someone's face, but sure would behind their back - that was called "being polite". And she would get upset about the smallest thing, it would stick in her craw, and she would complain endlessly about it. Many older folk get that way, just for lack of much to do in their life.

If you can't afford a really nice taller fence, how about one of those bamboo or reed fences from Home Depot? Roll that out on your side of whatever fence is there, to extend the height. Or maybe add some lattice work to the top of what's there. Don't be a prisoner in your own home because of them.

 

[jerseygirl1]

Maybe you can get someone to install the fencing for you CHEEP???

 

[Andora]

Quote:
Well I've got $23 in cash. Any takers?

I haven't seen bamboo reed fences. I'll look it up!