Unhappy Neighbor looking for solutions

[Unhappy Squawker]

It's not about the cost of eggs.

Do you want help or just needed to vent @Unhappy Squawker ?

need help.. have dealt with noise over 1 year.
not venting seeking answers of animal pleasures dominating over human peace vs cost of a few eggs when free range eggs are available ???
now they have added a new lab puppy to the chicken poop mess.. health danger

 

[21hens-incharge]

6 chickens. noisy hens
he has .55 acre lot 125 across backing up to my privacy fence
can hear his squawkers all the way across to next street

Oh dear.

His lot is large...actually twice what mine is.

I personally have 19 hens and 5 BIG dogs. There is no stench or health hazard from my yard. My birds do sing the egg song off and on for about 2 total hours a day.

While you may not agree with the keeping of pets his numbers are actually really reasonable.

Have you had a civil conversation with him regarding the noise that bothers you?

How close to that fence is the coop and run?

 

[MissE]

Not that I should say anything as I sit here smiling while listening my rooster teach my seven 12 week old cockerels how to crow, but I don't think chickens are noisy. They are certainly quieter than dogs barking.

My neighbor is a half mile away. She asked if I can hear her dog. Yes, and she can hear mine, however she didn't realize I even had a rooster.

Hens tend to be pretty quiet except when they lay an egg or cheer on another that laid an egg. When I lived in town, I found other neighborhood noise to be more annoying than egg songs. Wind chimes may help block some of the noise. You could also politely ask your neighbor to move the birds to a different part of the yard.

As far as smell, six chickens shouldn't create much of an odor unless they are confined to a small space with poor ventilation and inadequate bedding. I have 47 birds right now, and there is little smell even in hot days.

 

[LizzzyJo]

That actually sounds like a fine lot size for 6 hens and a dog. Maybe they are right next to your yard? Maybe if you asked them to put up a section of privacy fence just right behind the coop are for a sound blockade? If they refuse, maybe you could do it yourself on your side?

It's not about 'free' eggs. With 6 chickens after a few years, they are likely still not breaking even unless they sell eggs. With 6 I'm sure they are pets and enjoyable to watch and interact with. They can bring a bit of the simple life back into our busy modern world. Many can be petted and sit on laps. Most coops for 6 (that are large enough) don't really emit a smell unless in the wet heat of summer and even then it is not something that should travel far.

If it is bothering you, I would start by looking up the legal side of the issue (find out if they're legal). Then I would chat with and mention to the neighbor that they are a bit loud and mention a sound barrier.

High fences make good neighbors.

 

[Callender Girl]

I understand the frustration with noise. Getting away from neighbors' noise is one of the reasons I was thrilled to leave my adorable house in town. I had folks next door who had frequent parties in their driveway hours after my bedtime and directly in line with my bedroom, tons of screaming kids on bikes who liked to use my driveway as a launching point, a guy with what must have been the noisiest motorcycle ever made -- even before he revved it repeatedly -- and a dimwit who kept his mostly uncared for German Shepherds (who are great dogs) confined all day in a too small pen -- all of which made them talk too much and behave like crazy critters when they escaped said pen, threatening my pets because the GSDs were mostly unsocialized. Towns are noisy places.

I much prefer the sound of chickens. However, if it's legal for them to have the animals they have, then conversation is the next logical step. It's possible that, like me, the owners don't find the sound annoying at all and are unaware of how someone else feels.

Good luck finding a solution that works for everyone. It's pretty brave of you to post on a forum where you KNOW everyone loves chickens and is unlikely to be overly sympathetic.

 

[Unhappy Squawker]

thinking I could TRY TO understand the point of view .
I am still clueless but maybe I just want my peace and quiet porch .
We don't always get what we want, but who NEEDS to hear squawking chickens so close to the city?

 

[Briosafarm]

Are you bothered by the sounds of dogs barking, cats yowling, wild birds cheeping and occasionally screeching at each other, neighbors talking, cars passing by, motorcycles...or do you find the sounds chickens make especially annoying for some reason? Just curious, as it would seem the sounds a few hens make would be much less than all the other sounds one might hear in a neighborhood.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Are you bothered by the sounds of dogs barking, cats yowling, wild birds cheeping and occasionally screeching at each other, neighbors talking, cars passing by, motorcycles...or do you find the sounds chickens make especially annoying for some reason? Just curious, as it would seem the sounds a few hens make would be much less than all the other sounds one might hear in a neighborhood.

Good questions.

As I sit here listening to the neighbors mower, the trash trucks running, cars passing by, and a dog a few doors down reacting to something. All the while not hearing my 19 chickens at all.

 

[SubArcticFowl]

Most noise that people make is not essential. Most chicken keepers are not bothered by hens clucking. I find it cute and a different ball of wax to my neighbour's pit bull that tried to break through the fence and eat my children every time I step outside.

The smell is manageable. I think a polite conversation with your neighbour could go a long way.

 

[Painted Calls]

My mother lives in a neighborhood. I can't stand the people noises. The barking dogs, lawn mowers and weed eaters at all times of the day. Motorcycles and cars being revved. Kids screaming and people fighting.


I think to understand, you'd have to experience them. Spend time with them and get to know them. I love the crow of a rooster. The clucks and egg songs of hens... I even love the alarm calls of guineas. I no longer have guineas or roosters, but I miss those noises. Once you love chickens, you barely hear the noise IME. Now as far as the stench.... there shouldn't be one that you can smell unless they're not being cared for properly. I have wet yucky ducks and even they don't stink. Sounds to me like maybe your neighbors aren't providing for their hens as they should.