Transitioning from roofed to roofless run

[Dracarys]

Wow, I just read through this thread, and I'm so sorry you're going through this.

For what it's worth, here are my 2 cents:
Using leaves over top of the wire is an excellent idea. Just make sure to use smaller spaced wire such as hardware cloth or something like that to catch more leaves.

As for keeping it structurally sound, you may want to add wooden fence posts inside to the same height as the wire. How many depends on the length and width. If you get the ones with holes, you can even connect them with railing that the chickens can perch on. So essentially shore up the snow load with wooden fencing inside. I haven't tried this theory out with wire and snow, but I did this with a tarp and rain. The wooden supports kept the fencing from collapsing during a flash flood type storm.

My other thought is how tall is your run? I'm asking because if it's short enough, perhaps you could put up a temp fence using t-posts (they range from 5-10 feet tall but you need to put at least 2 feet in ground example) and fasten camo or shade cloth to it right next to the run to block your neighbor's view of it.

I really hope you find a solution to resolve this, something that you can live with.

 

[Lucky1066]

I've definitely thought of trees and plants, but the problem is that they'll take a while to grow as tall as I need them to,

So sorry to hear about your problems. I had neighbors like this. They'd sit on the patio with binoculars and complain when we planted or changed anything. I read the HOA rules thoroughly before I moved in and only did things that were not forbidden. People like your neighbor belong to the school of thought that says you can't do anything without explicit permission (preferably theirs). The stress was awful. I planted Leland Cypress 4' apart. It's an evergreen, which can grow several feet a year up to 50' once established. I put them on my side of the property line and blocked their view. I still had harassment, but it was much reduced when they couldn't watch us. I planted the whole property line, but really only needed 3 or 4 to block the view from their patio. One problem is Lelands do get tall, but I've been thinking about trimming mine to reduce shade. Anyway, good luck and know there are lots of others out there fighting the same battles and cheering for you. It took 25 years for our jerks to move, but we have the nicest neighbors now. They even asked us to consider letting the chickens graze on their lawn!

 

[K0k0shka]

As for keeping it structurally sound, you may want to add wooden fence posts inside to the same height as the wire. How many depends on the length and width. If you get the ones with holes, you can even connect them with railing that the chickens can perch on. So essentially shore up the snow load with wooden fencing inside. I haven't tried this theory out with wire and snow, but I did this with a tarp and rain. The wooden supports kept the fencing from collapsing during a flash flood type storm.

My other thought is how tall is your run? I'm asking because if it's short enough, perhaps you could put up a temp fence using t-posts (they range from 5-10 feet tall but you need to put at least 2 feet in ground example) and fasten camo or shade cloth to it right next to the run to block your neighbor's view of it.

You can see my run (in its original state) on my coop page (linked under my profile picture). It's 8 feet tall at the front, 6 at the back - it's a tall, sturdy structure, with rafters and purlins. I'll take the purlins off, but the rafters can stay and can support the wire mesh without any additional posts in the middle. I'm not allowed to fasten camo or shade cloth to the top, but I was thinking of using it in the back, vertically above the privacy fence behind the coop and run, to block the neighbor's view of the chickens, and my view of him.

 

[K0k0shka]

So sorry to hear about your problems. I had neighbors like this. They'd sit on the patio with binoculars and complain when we planted or changed anything. I read the HOA rules thoroughly before I moved in and only did things that were not forbidden. People like your neighbor belong to the school of thought that says you can't do anything without explicit permission (preferably theirs). The stress was awful. I planted Leland Cypress 4' apart. It's an evergreen, which can grow several feet a year up to 50' once established. I put them on my side of the property line and blocked their view. I still had harassment, but it was much reduced when they couldn't watch us. I planted the whole property line, but really only needed 3 or 4 to block the view from their patio. One problem is Lelands do get tall, but I've been thinking about trimming mine to reduce shade. Anyway, good luck and know there are lots of others out there fighting the same battles and cheering for you. It took 25 years for our jerks to move, but we have the nicest neighbors now. They even asked us to consider letting the chickens graze on their lawn!

Wow... HOA's are scary. Glad you got good neighbors now! My neighbor just bought the property a few months ago... I don't think I can hope to get rid of him anytime soon, sadly.

 

[K0k0shka]

Anyway, good luck and know there are lots of others out there fighting the same battles and cheering for you.

Thank you so much! It really helps knowing there are others on my side in spirit. This guy has made me sound like a horrible person and neighbor at the hearings and has added so much stress to my daily life. Ugh. I just want this to be over.

 

[K0k0shka]

It’s coming together... while coming apart.

 

[West Bend]

He should be mad at the sellers not take it out on you. Maybe he had a bad experience watching the movie Birds as a child! Can some people gather together for a "family" meeting with jello shots and discuss the birds maybe he doesn't know a lot about them and watching them are very calming. While working in my yard I stopped to watch them and end up not getting much accomplished . Kill him with kindness! They do say, you get more bees with honey than you do with vinegar.
Family meeting= jello shots at my house

 

[K0k0shka]

He should be mad at the sellers not take it out on you. Maybe he had a bad experience watching the movie Birds as a child! Can some people gather together for a "family" meeting with jello shots and discuss the birds maybe he doesn't know a lot about them and watching them are very calming. While working in my yard I stopped to watch them and end up not getting much accomplished . Kill him with kindness! They do say, you get more bees with honey than you do with vinegar.
Family meeting= jello shots at my house

I tried kindness back in March. Didn’t work. He’s the kind that thinks kindness=weakness, so it made him bolder and more entitled, and it really backfired on me.

 

[aart]

It’s coming together... while coming apart.

Reminds me of the song by Ferron....
"life don't clickety-clack down a straight line track,
it come together and it come apart."

 

[West Bend]

Look him up on C-Cap