AJuff Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 I have just returned from a four day break in Wales to find my nosey neighbours have helped themselves to the eggs without being invited to! We did not ask them to look after them. To make matters worse I spoke to our cleaner who was in whilst we were away and she asked me if the boys from next door were allowed to play football in the garden with one of their friends. I am so cross! I'm not sure how to deal with this one as I don't want to upset them but they have upset me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 That's a bit shocking isn't it... Can't you have a casual chat with them, telling them you are missing some eggs and ask if they've seen anything unusual or anyone hanging around your garden, and in that way put it across to them that the eggs and garden are not there for them to help themselves to when you are away? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 Go and speak to them, how dare they take your chooks eggs . Tell them they had a huge infestation of 'egg worms' and ask them if they ate them, then look really alarmed when they say they did . xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hpops Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 I can't believe that - what a liberty!!!! I wonder if it was the kids who took the eggs? I can't believe adults would have the audacity - at least with kids you can say they mightn't know better!!! If they are rude enough to behave this way then I wouldn't get into an argument - it's very unlikely to end in your favour or amicably. Actually thinking about it - do you know what I'd do - I'd mention to your neighbors that you had noticed that some eggs had gone from the run and you'd rushed round as the chickens are on some sort of treatment for a rare chicken disease and it can be very dangerous to eat the eggs whilst they on medication!!! Tell them to look out for any signs of rashes - stomach cramps - spots before the eyes or bleeding from any unusual orifices for the next few months!!!!!!! I'm sorry - maybe slightly wicked - but I think they deserve a shock or two!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirkwood Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 (edited) My goodness i would be round there, playing football....your girls must have been wondering what was happening. dont tell them next time you are going away Edited April 10, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daj198 Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 Hehehe, I like the eggworm and medication ideas! For all the neighbours knew though, the chooks could have been on wormer feed that has an egg withdrawal period. How rude of them! You could consider getting a padlock on your gate... or an electric fence! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsm_jones Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 EVIL! But I like it! I will have to remember all these tricks in case my neighbours get up to any tricks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted April 10, 2008 Author Share Posted April 10, 2008 My goodness i would be round there, playing....your girls must have been wondering what was happening. dont tell them next time you are going away We deliberately didn't tell them we were going away!! They are very intrusive neighbours and want to know everything we get up to but we are sick of it now and keep ourselves to ourselves. My cleaner says they the both asked her seperately on different days who was looking after the hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 I too like the idea about saying the chooks are being wormed and the eggs arent fit for human consumption.They were very cheeky to take what dont belong to them and also to allow their kids to play in your garden. I would howvever always try to remain amicable with neighbours because you never know when you might need their help and also-they could make your life a living misery. I'd just drop it into conversation that they were being tested for gutworm (it sounds terrible!) and was wondering where the eggs had gone because the vet needs to annaylise them for chemical contamination.Its all false obviously,but it should make them think twice about helping themselves in future. ps.Should they admit to taking them-tell them to start worrying if they sneeze...bird flu.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 Cheeky so-and-so's!! What an absolute nerve. There's some cracking ideas there though - if you can keep a straight face! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindy Loo Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 Blimmin' cheek! I think the worm/medication idea ("Yes, we always worm our chooks before we go away. It is such a good opportunity as,of course, you can't eat the eggs because of the poisonous chemicals") dropped casually into the conversation would be good. it may also make them think twice about taking any again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckbok Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 Oh yes yes yes, you've got to tell your neighbours about the medication!! then let us all know on here what happened, what their face looked like!! Maybe they will be running off to the doctor but they certainly won't take your eggs again. The cheek of it really. You could install a webcam like we have done, ( we shall be letting you all know the address when the website is finished), but that way you could keep an eye on what's going on. Hide camera in bush or something. We've got ours inside our eglu looking out onto the run. Anyway good luck, you tell em!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deejmum Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 How dare they, that is such an invasion of your space. You should tell them the police will be dusting the hen house for fingerprints! Love the web cam idea. Do you think it could have just been their kids without them knowing. How could any adults be so outrageous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 I think the worm/medication idea ("Yes, we always worm our chooks before we go away. It is such a good opportunity as,of course, you can't eat the eggs because of the poisonous chemicals") dropped casually into the conversation would be good. it may also make them think twice about taking any again! LindyLoo - that's marvellous. I love it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 You have every right to be cross, what a bloomin cheek Make sure next time you go away that you lock everything up so they cant get in. I cant believe your neighbours did that. my OH would go mad if our neighbours came in our garden uninvited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 I would be absolutely fuming but why didnt the people looking after your chooks take the eggs and tell you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanbb Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 So sorry to hear this.It's a bit of a liberty for them to think they can do this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 You're right to be mad - what a cheek . I was wondering if you had a friend looking after the hens and collecting the eggs? Does it look like the neighbours came in every day and "stole" the eggs before your friend had a chance to? In that case, it must have been a deliberate decision and not just a one-off. I think you should mention to them that your friend was so disappointed not to have any eggs to collect and did they see anyone who looked like they were stealing eggs (make sure to use the word "steal"!). (Although I do like the worms and medication stories .) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 perhaps it's good to have someone keeping an eye on things while you're away? The fact that they both asked your cleaner who was looking after the chooks might mean they are fond of them and wanted to make sure they were going to be safe? Letting their children play football in your garden is a bit cheeky but perhaps they didn't realise what the kids were up to? What makes you sure the neighbours did help themselves to the eggs, did someone see them do it? Maybe it was the kids but how would they have got to your girls, was someone looking after them for you? I don't know you, your neighbours or what your relationship is with them but maybe you could try and be friends with them and then you have ready made chicken sitters for when you're away? I think it's good for neighbours to know when you're away as a security measure. If not, build a better fence perhaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 I should be inclined to tell them, that you have contacted the police as there has been evidence of trespass and theft....and did they see anything? That should put the wind up them! What a blooming cheek. Or you could just have a word and say you have been told that their children were trespassing on your land whilst you were away...that you take a very dim view of it, but that you will overlook it this once, but that if it happens again you will have to take action. Good grief! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 That news is absolutely disgraceful. I agree that the parents might not know if it were the children taking your eggs - but I am absolutely sure that they would know when the little monsters were playing footie in your garden - you can hear the ball being kicked quite clearly. I expect they didn't bother to keep their voices low either! Round our way on the odd occasion some stupid boys go round "egging" houses. It has been really unpleasant, fortunately we were OK, but another lady spotted one of the boys, informed the Police, but nothing was done. I love the worm idea too - wicked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 I think the 'gutworm' or 'eggworm' idea is brilliant ... no possible comeback from them on that, is there! However, it's probably enough just to drop that into the conversation - you have to consider whether it's really worth falling out with them, although I do think their kids being in your garden is a real cheek. Just an aside though - I have been happily collecting 4 eggs a day (one of my gingernuts isn't laying). Tonight I trotted up the garden, opened the eggport - and there was ONE measly egg! I don't know why mine have suddenly all stopped laying - but is it possible, maybe disturbed by footballing children, that they just went off lay? It would be a bit of a coincidence, wouldn't it, but I thought I'd throw it into the debate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 What a lively thread in response to a dilemma which not only the poster but others may experince. Many really potentially effective posts. Problem solving is great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twix Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 i thought linda's idea of how to drop it into conversation was great. but tru it could be coincidence. mine have been a bit off lay the last 2 days.. maybe something in the air.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted April 11, 2008 Share Posted April 11, 2008 Thats TERRIBLE. You could try the evil "I am SUCH a nice neighbour" approach.... So long as you're sure it's them, then say "I'm glad you feel comfortable enough around us and that you see our home as being welcoming. But we'd really appreciate it if your children didn't play in our garden, we do like our privacy and feeling like it is our own private sanctuary. And we're really concerned about your taking the eggs when we're not around because sometimes we need to use medications and wormers on the chickens. You've not used them yet, have you...?" It doesn't leave them any justification for behaving like that, and shouldn't stir a big argument. And really should make them feel very very bad indeed - rightly so! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
