Should I tell neighbour to stop it? (diagram included)

[NanuNanuM]

I cannot decide if to tell my neighbour to pack it in.

They constructed a shelter for their - - stinky-- hens this winter (hens been here for years). It's a thin wood frame covered with tarpaulin. Height level with the fence.

When it rains it sags with water. Neighbour goes into hen shelter and tips the rain into my garden.
When it snows (we've had lots of snow showers) it sags so neighbour goes into to shelter and pushes it into out garden.

I have some small shrubs (delicate - think mini trees), right under that fence and they are getting damaged with the weight of the snow suddenly dumped on them. One was in a pot so moved it.

Would I be a mardy cow to tell them to stop it?

Of course it’s not unreasonable just explain the issue to her politely and ask her to stop

Yanbu. I don't know what else to say.

Just tell her to stop. A reasonable person would understand. Is she generally reasonable?

YANBU at all.

Fab diagram btw!

Tell the bitch to stop. I guess it's because of the way it's constructed, it's easier for her to lift the side nearest her path, so the water ends up on your garden. Lowering the tarpaulin would get her wet.

Presumably the chickens are being kept undercover to comply with the bird flu rules - it's illegal to have them out in the open at present.

There are issues with avian flu at the moment which would explain why it's suddenly been built and being covered.
They can't not cover it, but you wouldn't be unreasonable asking them to be careful when releasing water and snow

We used to get on well. But she had an argument with my partner in the Summer (he asked if the gardeners would taking the tree remains of a tree she'd cut down that fell into our garden). She is really defensive and gets nasty and tells other neighbours we are horrid, which they take with a pinch of salt.

It's difficult at the moment, there is a avian flu pandemic and legally all domestic fowl need to be under cover (which is why she's put the tarpaulin over it).

But yes, just tell her that it's damaging your plants and to put it over her side.

@lagneyandcasey

Thank you. I always enjoy a good diagram.

Love your name!

Kill it with kindness? Say how marvellous her delightful hens are and what a dream she’s living and then mention that you’d be terribly grateful if she could tip her water/ snow onto her own bog of a garden please?

You may want to paraphrase 😊

IMO she is being outrageous. That is so rude! Don't just ask, tell her not to .

But also, why did she have to build the hen "house" right next to your houses rather than up the garden a bit??

Can you raise the height of the fence at all? Is it already at 6ft? Add 2ft if trellis and some Clematis - something there will at least deflect some of the water in time? Doesn't sound as though she would be amenable to moving the shelter or changing her habits to shed water into her garden.

@Chamomileteaplease if she's anything like our neighbours it will have been quite deliberate

Raise the fence in some way so this is impossible.
If she mentions it - smile sweetly - oh, is that your hen house? I hadn't noticed.

She's behaving badly. Just deflect.

It's possible that she just isnt thinking, sees saggy roof and pushes it up, problem solved, doesnt think that the contents of the roof have to go somewhere.

YWNBU to tell her (politely) that she is damaging plants in your garden.

Awesome diagram 10/10!

You are totally unreasonable to not have included an escapee hen in your diagram.

Otherwise, you’re entirely in the right. You need an elaborate re-funneling system of pipes on your side of the fence so the water ricochets back onto the CF next door. Extra points if it hits her in the pants.

She is very unreasonable to have the hen house positioned so close to the house in the first place. What happens in the summer? I can imagine it is a magnet for flies and vermin.

I mean... ask, don't tell. Be polite and she'll be more likely to be polite back. No need to start off with orders and demands when manners are a much better social lubricant.

Hopefully it's temporary until avian flu restrictions are lifted. Try to live with it until then, but keep an eye on guidance and mention it then if it isn't removed.

Just screw some plastic on top of your fence she will rot the fencing away if she carrys on

Stick a splash back behind it
Or a gutter than runs down to their drop level but.

Bit not but

Its only a magnet if its not cleaned.