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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Neighbour just came round and demanded I get rid of my chickens!!

95 replies

ReallyReallyNearly · 02/09/2016 12:26

I have to say I was left a gobsmacked. A corner of her garden touches the corner of ours, then we have neighbours along one long fence, with the two other fences backing onto fields so it is quite a rural location in a small village.
We put chickens in the bottom of the garden, they are quiet, content and happy. They are well fenced in, looked after, etc. The problem is her dog tends to bark at the fence a lot - it is a 6ft high panel fence. Now it did this before whenever we are in garden, children playing etc and now also barks at the chickens. The lady doesn't seem to call it off or take it in; and often leaves it barking for an hour or so.
She turned up at our door (I had never met her before this point!!) being really quite rude, demanding I get rid of the chickens as it was upsetting her dog, I barely got a word in. I wanted to suggest that maybe we move them to the other side of the garden so not to worry her dog, but really just couldn't her to be quiet long enough. Also I wanted to say that EVERYTHING upsets her dog and I hear it barking all the bloomin time - but I didn't. I just ended it by saying I'd talk to my husband.
What do I do??? I don't want a neighbour dispute but I want to keep our chickens - I fear moving them won't solve the problem.

OP posts:

opensideno7 · 02/09/2016 13:21

Sadly yet other symptom of people's view of their 'entitlement'

she needs a virulent dose of reality.

AGenie · 02/09/2016 13:22

I love the idea of a sweaty parrot. :-)

YoungGirlGrowingOld · 02/09/2016 13:24

We have 23 wild ducks living in our garden at the moment. The chicken noise is nothing! Take her some eggs as an olive branch then explain the dog problem.

WankersHacksandThieves · 02/09/2016 13:25

However I'm just in a bad mood after being shouted at by an entitled bmw driving prick who appears to think he owns the road after skipping a red light. Ahhh as you were.

Not trying to divert the thread, but I was behind an Audi yesterday that managed to flout many many laws over the course of a very short journey. Started of with smoke billowing out window and fag end being chucked onto the road, I was then aware that there was a small child in the car (can see little arms waving about). When we moved from the lights Audi tailgates the car in front while not indicating and then I can see driver rummaging around in glove box whilst moving away from next set of lights, shortly after whilst still tailgating she launches some gum or a small piece of paper or something out the window as well. Antisocial jackpot.

witchywoohoo · 02/09/2016 13:26

My neighbour has chickens AND a dog. Neither have ever given me any cause for complaint. I grew up in a rough council estate and the noise of chickens scrabbling about and clucking and dogs barking is far preferable to pissed folk fighting and police sirens .

Please completely ignore her OP. She has absolutely no right to ask you to get rid of your chickens and really doesn't have a leg to stand on. Ignore ignore ignore. And if she comes to you again tell her firmly that you have no plans to get rid of them.

scalliondays · 02/09/2016 13:30

Tell her you've spoken to your dh and you've decided to get rid of any annoying neighbours instead.

Original poster

ReallyReallyNearly · 02/09/2016 13:30

Sweaty parrot it is! :-)
I'll try some eggs and a kind word first though I think....

OP posts:

user1470997562 · 02/09/2016 13:31

I bet somebody else has complained about her dog barking.

Fontella · 02/09/2016 13:37

My next door neighbour has chickens and they are absolutely no bother at all.

We live in a terrace of four houses - she is on the end and I am the second of the four. The gardens are long and narrow and her chicken coop can't be more than 10 feet from my fence, probably even less than that.

The only time I can ever hear anything is when I am actually in the garden working near the best and then there's a bit of gentle cooing and clucking. It's lovely!!

it's her barking dog that's the problem, not your chickens!!

WeAllHaveWings · 02/09/2016 13:37

In an ideal world poultry or barking dogs would have no place in a residential areas where houses and gardens are directly adjacent and consideration for neighbours is essential. But when people don't fully consider their neighbours animosity ensues.

What can you do? As you each believe you are not doing anything wrong all you can do is both calm down and have a conversation to see if you can resolve it. Tell her you understand chickens are not everyone's cup of tea but you legally have as much right to keep them as she has to have a dog and you also have a problem with her barking dog and can you discuss both your issues.

Tell her you will keep your chickens and will take all precautions possible to ensure they do not impact her by making sure they do not attract vermin and you will take actions to minimise odour, flies or noise issues for her.

Then discuss what she is going to do to resolve the issues with her barking dog. Stay calm and if she gets wound up tell her you are leaving until she can discuss calmly.

Alternatively you can ignore and let the bad feelings escalate between you and her (and probably your other neighbours who will be fed up hearing her dog because of your chickens).

Fontella · 02/09/2016 13:37

near the 'fence'. Bloody autocorrect.

redannie118 · 02/09/2016 13:43

This reply has been withdrawn

The OP has privacy concerns, and so we've agreed to take this down now.

shovetheholly · 02/09/2016 13:49

Consideration for neighbours MEANS a bit of give and take sometimes. Pets are something that bring people great joy, and just a little bit of tolerance on all sides goes a long way. You can't cut yourself off from all noise - even if you move to the middle of the country, you'll find nature is noisy.

I think these things are very much learned as a kind of habit. A lot of people have grown up in a world where they have become used to tremendous space and privacy. With a growing population, it's doubtful that we can really continue - we probably all need to get used to living a bit more densely, and becoming a bit more tolerant.

Spiderpigspiderpig · 02/09/2016 13:52

Just ignore her

GabsAlot · 02/09/2016 13:54

why did u say you would talk about it withut mentioning her dog

why does dog trump chickens

if she cant train her dog say you'll have to report her to enviromnetal health about the noise

Southallgirl · 02/09/2016 13:59

Speak to neighbour, no need to swear as others are advising.

I kept chickens for 8 yrs, but no cockerel. Some councils do not allow cockerels to be kept (unless it's a farm of course).

Advise her that she should put in place some type of obstruction to prevent her dog going to the end of the garden. If she screams about cost, then you say - in a measured tone - that her dog has been causing a disturbance for a long time but you hv not said anything. However, as she appears to hv no control of the dog she has to decide what to do.

(i) take dog to classes, (ii) put up a 7ft tall series of panels covered with chicken-wire, or (iii) move.

If things do not go well, I would gently insinuate that her dog is being ill-treated - why else would a dog be so upset?

Dowser · 02/09/2016 14:03

I love chickens. Neighbours have them.
Love listening to them cluck away.
Only time we've ever had rats is when the chickens moved in.
Why not offer her some fresh eggs

CheesyWeez · 02/09/2016 14:03

Is she elderly OP? I remember my gran getting all upset at everything that happened in her street, people didn't cut their hedges, or they cut their hedges too short, parked OUTSIDE THEIR OWN HOUSES, etc. If she's hard of hearing she only noticed her dog barking when someone maybe complained.

If she's not elderly maybe she is out at work while the dog barks for an hour at a time. I mean, who would let their dog do that?
I would take the eggs, and tell her her dog barked all day before you got the chickens, that you will move them if necessary but it won't stop her dog barking, she has to do that.

RockinHippy · 02/09/2016 14:04

My guess is that other neighbours have complained about her dog & she may have had the council, or dog warden round to tell her to sort it out. Instead of doing the reasonable thing, she has decided to blame your chickens.

As above, tell her to "F"" right off"

Maybe ring Environmental health for advice though & let them know about her digs incessant barking & it predating you having well kept chickens, it preempts her getting in first with a complaint. I would also consider ringing 101 as her behaviour is a bit on the barking mad threatening side too - she has no right to demand that you do anything at all, especially not in such a rude manner

Happyhippy45 · 02/09/2016 14:05

Don't get a cockerel. Seriously. Don't. Our neighbours a few doors down got one a few months ago. It fucking torture. From the second I open my eyes in the morning until sundown it crows at regular intervals with little peaks of activity where it crows every 30 seconds.

Southallgirl · 02/09/2016 14:06

Alternatively, get a cockerel to give her something to really complain about! Or a peacock

Naw. Gotta be a pair of VULTURES. Excellent birds, very misunderstood.

Original poster

ReallyReallyNearly · 02/09/2016 14:12

I would guess she is in her mid to late 60s... We only moved in about 6 mths ago and house was a complete state and tip in a very nice area. We were seemingly extremely popular when we first moved in and got rid of five skips of rubbish from gardens etc. No other neighbours have been upset about the chickens, and enjoy the eggs etc .
I hadn't met this woman before today and haven't actually seen her dog as it is always behind the fence.
I'll pop round later when not so gobsmacked by a situation! I was very much caught off guard!

OP posts:

deydododatdodontdeydo · 02/09/2016 14:12

We have chickens on a rural estate, our neighbours -neglected- dog, which is left alone outdoors with no socialisation escaped and killed them.
Twice.
It's also killed a cat.
We feel awfully guilty if the hens cluck a bit louder than usual, but to be honest, with so many dogs around howling and barking all day, they're a minor irritation if at all.
The dog is the problem, not your hens.

ConkersDontScareSpiders · 02/09/2016 14:13

Pop a box of twenty eggs on her doorstep with a note from the hens to the dog to ask it, politely, to stop barking at them, at it appears to be disturbing its owner.
Too goady?

IrianOfW · 02/09/2016 14:20

Take her some eggs. Tell her that the chickens are sorry but they are staying. If she persists, buy some bees - just three of four hives.. They are lovely and quiet so she can't possible complain.

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