Updates on the last pages: Neighbor is threatening me and my chickens

[Iluveggers]

I was going to post to try to refocus everyone but @Smileybans your post did just that. There are so many reasons for people to be sad on a daily basis, I hope everyone on here can stay friendly and be positive, good listeners regardless of differing viewpoints. Hugs.

 

[Smileybans]

Looks like moving my chickens into my house is what I’m doing. The zoning board chair is back to ignoring us. So now we have to make it look like we removed all of the chickens from the property. My plan for keeping the roosters quiet so far is to keep them in a dog kennel and cover it. I know it isn’t great, or what I even want for them, but two of them are on medicine. I just hope my neighbor doesn’t catch on or complain for no reason. If he complains at all the ordinance d**k will come around asking to look in my house. And that’s where I draw the line. With anyone. Even if I wasn’t going to hide them in my house I would still say no. They can get a warrant if they want to search so bad.

I found out there are other families looking to move out of the village. The reasons being because of the way these people have handled all of this. I can’t wait until I go to the newspaper and more people find out. My mom told me to not move the chickens until I hear about the variance and if they try and fine me, to tell them to f-off. To tell them I’m not going to pay the fine because Im waiting on a variance. This isn’t what I’m going to do but it’s a nice f-you to the village. If I were to do that word would spread, but maybe not in my favor.

 

[Iluveggers]

Looks like moving my chickens into my house is what I’m doing. The zoning board chair is back to ignoring us. So now we have to make it look like we removed all of the chickens from the property. My plan for keeping the roosters quiet so far is to keep them in a dog kennel and cover it. I know it isn’t great, or what I even want for them, but two of them are on medicine. I just hope my neighbor doesn’t catch on or complain for no reason. If he complains at all the ordinance d**k will come around asking to look in my house. And that’s where I draw the line. With anyone. Even if I wasn’t going to hide them in my house I would still say no. They can get a warrant if they want to search so bad.

I found out there are other families looking to move out of the village. The reasons being because of the way these people have handled all of this. I can’t wait until I go to the newspaper and more people find out. My mom told me to not move the chickens until I hear about the variance and if they try and fine me, to tell them to f-off. To tell them I’m not going to pay the fine because Im waiting on a variance. This isn’t what I’m going to do but it’s a nice f-you to the village. If I were to do that word would spread, but maybe not in my favor.

You could tell the zoning board you play chicken & rooster sounds on your stereo all day since you miss them, & that is why your neighbor thinks he hears chickens (if he suspects anything).

 

[Smileybans]

You could tell the zoning board you play chicken & rooster sounds on your stereo all day since you miss them, & that is why your neighbor thinks he hears chickens (if he suspects anything).

I’m going to have to use that. I’ll have to record them so I have the recordings if I’m asked.

 

[aart]

I’m going to have to use that. I’ll have to record them so I have the recordings if I’m asked.

Can just find some videos on the net.

 

[saysfaa]

Have you looked into the specifics of getting a variance? Quite often the code is written so that it can't be used to make an exception for an owner of a typical property. The intent is to give a bit of flexibility for unique parcels and specifically not to let some people have different rules than everyone else.

For example, a variance was given to one of my neighbors to build a garage a few inches closer to the road than the setback requirement allowed - only because the unique topography of that corner meant that garage did not shorten the sightlines of traffic on that road or interfere with any other purpose of that setback (I don't remember all the purposes for it... allow for utilities, maybe -also something that wouldn't be relevant on that road.) No other property in the township would qualify for such a variance.

Not to be unsympathetic; but to possibly save you some fees and hassels and maybe some time before looking for other alternatives.

 

[4flock]

My neighbor all of a sudden has a problem with my chickens. He freaked out because I held 40 chicks overnight for a friend. The chicks were gone in the morning but he is still freaking out. He’s worried his dog will come into my yard and kill my chickens. But then he tells me he has trained his dog not to touch my chickens.

I live in upstate ny where the right to farm law is in effect. My village zoning laws say nothing about not being able to keep poultry. It actually says it’s okay to keep all kinds of livestock in any zone. There is also no limit on how many I can keep. The right to farm law covers most of the zoning law in my village.

I breed and sell my chickens. I sell the chicks and the eggs. This has quickly become part of my income since I cannot work outside of my home. I have four roosters and twenty hens. My neighbor is mad that I have named all of my chickens and that I don’t actually know how many I have. I know how many I have but don’t tell him because it isn’t his business.

I’m wondering if I’m in the wrong here at all. If he calls someone down will I get into trouble? Or can I flip the scrip because he lets his dog off leash in a town with leash laws? In the zoning laws for my village it says no animal shall run at large, except cats, unless fenced in properly. My chickens are fenced in but hes afraid his dog will bust through the fence or something. There is also no talking to this guy. He’s an old man stuck in his ways and refuses to listen to anyone who doesn’t tell him what he wants to hear.

Advice? Should I just let it be? My anxiety has me going crazy.

Let your anxiety rest friend. Sounds like a old man just ranting because he can. Your property, your rules. If he begins to harass you, I would stand my ground. However like you said, he’s just a old guy set in his ways. Just smile and wave, let him be grumpy in the world.

 

[Isadora]

Let your anxiety rest friend. Sounds like a old man just ranting because he can. Your property, your rules. If he begins to harass you, I would stand my ground. However like you said, he’s just a old guy set in his ways. Just smile and wave, let him be grumpy in the world.

Fortunately, we are far, far beyond that.
@Smileybans Yes to them not being allowed in the house without a warrant. Just because someone is "official", whether it be a police officer, a CPS worker, or someone from the government, we are under no obligation to let them in unless they have a warrant.

 

[Brooks_]

Fortunately, we are far, far beyond that.
@Smileybans Yes to them not being allowed in the house without a warrant. Just because someone is "official", whether it be a police officer, a CPS worker, or someone from the government, we are under no obligation to let them in unless they have a warrant.

I am not sure, but I think CPS gets a little more leeway. Not to take away from your overall point.

 

[Isadora]

I am not sure, but I think CPS gets a little more leeway. Not to take away from your overall point.

They are not allowed to come in unless they have a court order, a warrant, or your permission.