Cinnamon Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 I can't help thinking that if your old creepy neighbour had complained about the hens then sold his house to one of his friends, shouldn't your new neighbours complaint be with him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 That's a good angle on it Sarah and sooo right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 recoding somethng on a moile phone proves nothing. Its a 'mobile' er that means he could have been ANYWHERE Some people I would get a witness with you, pop round and try and see if you can smooth it over. During this conversation I would drop a hint that maybe he should be speaking to his 'friend' (am I the only one wondering why the said 'friend' never moaned about the hens to his mates, surely he would have and the new neighbour must have known about them before purchasing the house ). Other than that I cannot believe that three hens make so much noise that he cant sleep. Also, if he can't get back o sleep he can't be that tired anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Theres another angle here you now! When you sell your house you are now obliged to inform the buyers of any disputes or issues that you may have with your neighbours. So if he was told about your "noisy Chickens "- he agreed to buy the house anyway. If he wasn't told - then the seller is held responsible and he can sue him! Therefore, if and when you hear from the council you can use this piece of info to your advantage. Your neighbour either (A) knew about the chickens and bought the house anyway - or - (B) should sue the seller for not informing him of said "noisy chickens" and percived loss of his lie-in. Good luck! Louise PS: I'd leave the door shut and try a blanket or something to fool them into snoozing a bit longer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 I have a dozen hens and my neighbours next door were there for 2 weeks before they knew that I had any hens - they said that they never heard them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 I would suggest you check that there are no local by-laws or property deeds or such that specifically name you cannot have chickens, but otherwise not worry These covenants are only enforcable by the person who made them, so if it's an old house that person is probably long gone and if it's a newish build it is only ever enforced whilst the builders are still on site, it's more to do with preserving uniformity whilst the builders are still selling off the plots. My last house I had from new and we were the 2nd people to move in and we were not allowed to erect a fence in the front higher than 18inches and were not allowed to keep goats or horses!!!! That was because the land previously was grazing land and had goats and horses on it, so it was basically to overturn the previous use for the land! My current house is built on land that was previously owned by the Admiralty/MOD and any Oak trees on it must be surrendered to the crown if neded to build warships!!! I love that one!! (The wood for HMS Victory came from around here!). I wouldn't worry too much about the old MISOG - you have had you hens for ages with no complaints - the council are more concerned for their welfare anyway. As long as they are well kept and the surrounding are as clean as can be - the EHO are usually happy! LOuise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfred Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 They can be quite noisy sometimes - mine woke me up at 7am yesterday (through double glazing)> i think they were shouting at me because their water was frozen over! However I think it is a lovely noise. Far better than the neighbours dogs which they let out early and bark loudly for half an hour before they bring them in. Not that I would think of complaining as it's only for half an hour and you have got to expect some noise in this crowded country. Honestly if your neighbour wanted total silence why buy a house on an estate? He should go and live in the middle of nowhere! Some people do just like to complain. Trying to make friends and appear to be making an effort would probably be the best solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Theres another angle here you now! When you sell your house you are now obliged to inform the buyers of any disputes or issues that you may have with your neighbours. So if he was told about your "noisy Chickens "- he agreed to buy the house anyway. If he wasn't told - then the seller is held responsible and he can sue him! Therefore, if and when you hear from the council you can use this piece of info to your advantage. Your neighbour either (A) knew about the chickens and bought the house anyway - or - (B) should sue the seller for not informing him of said "noisy chickens" and percived loss of his lie-in. Good luck! Louise PS: I'd leave the door shut and try a blanket or something to fool them into snoozing a bit longer! Hey that saved me typing all that, as I had just thought of that angle. I reckon be nice as you can & don't buy into his whole nasty mode.. Claret can you come teach one of mine how to be quiet, she's right gobby! but I have 3 lovely close neigbours & despite being right by her bedroom, one says she can't hear through her new double glazing AT ALL, but can here in the downstairs bathroom, (non glazed) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillicat Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Goodness me! What a cheek some people have. Luvvy, you are going to need to toughen up and stand up to this bully. Aren't all decent people early birds who love chickens? I love my chickens more than .... well, a lot actually...... and if it ever came to chickens v neighbours, then there would be no contest. AND if any of my neighbours even dared to bully me into letting them have a lie in over the freedom of my ladies, then they have another thing coming. Poor you to have to go through this and I'm right behind Poet......do you need some chicken lovers to come and sort him out? Seriously, be strong, firm and positive. He's wasting your time. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathybc Posted February 14, 2009 Author Share Posted February 14, 2009 Thank you all again so much for your advice and support. I was so upset it took me 2 days to even be able to post about it! But I feel a bit better about it now. I know it has been said before, but Omleteers are great I think his problem is that he does need to get a life. He is a single bloke and to be honest, I have never heard a peep out of him, never see him go out or come back in in the evenings and I think he feels everyone should be like him ie no children playing, pets etc. I was surprised and saddened to hear about other people's problems with neighbours. OK, some people are anti-social and make unacceptable levels of noise that should be complained about (constant late night parties etc), but it seems a number of people can't cope with 'normal' life noises. Anyway, I have several plans : 1. I am now shutting the eglu door and don't hear a peep until 7.15; 2. I can't move them any further away from him because they are already over the other side of the garden after 'discussions' with NN1 (Nasty Neighbour 1). But I will try and cover them with a dark blanket, especially for when the mornings get lighter (totally off topic here but for the first time in ages, it was LIGHT when I left work at 5pm on Friday. It was lovely!) 3. Bake him a cake with added Valium or similar to calm him down and help him get his beauty sleep. 4. Start a post entitled 'please can I borrow someone's boisterous children' to see if he would prefer that 5. If all else fails, I will take Poet up on her kind offer (that really made me chuckle!) I did check out the deeds 12 months ago due to NN1. I can't remember what exactly they said, but there was nothing about chickens. I think I am prevented from keeping pigs, selling beer or starting a brothel though. And yes, the girls were here before NN2, he would have seen my lovely purple eglu (thanks Bellekatz!) for a start. Fingers crossed he will 'wind his neck in' again now...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Definitely continue to be reasonable. You must now start to keep your own records. Make a note of the date he told you about the complaint, and what you did as a result. If he complains again, or sends the council round, then have a discussion about whether there mght be a better place in the garden for you to site them (it's irrelevant that they are where they are because of the other neighbour). It might be that they are far away from his house, but directly in line with his window, for example. Keep a note of every conversation you have with him. If your girls are particularly noisy on any given day, then make a note of that too (separately). This will help you correlate/refute any info he has. The council probably won't do anything, but some councils start by sending out a notice telling you to get it sorted out. It's quicker and cheaper for them to do that, rather than actually coming out and evaluating. If you have your contact sheet, you can show everything you've done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickens@61 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 what a horrible sounding person your new neighbour is! our immediate neighbours are all lovely, but there is a family a few doors down who are very noisy at all hours.. very rude.. park their cars all over the verges outside causing mayhem & are generally loathed by all - we have never complained, as unless you can afford a house with acres of land you have to have a certain degree of tolerance to other people - however, when we got our chickens the mother from this family said to me "i hope they're not going to be noisy, we don't want to be woken up by chickens" i couldn't believe it! they obviously think they are the perfect neighbours & we enjoy living near to them you are not breaking any laws, or behaving in an unreasonable way.. please take comfort from the fact that you are clearly not doing anything wrong, and don't let this mans moaning spoil your enjoyment of chicken keeping xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 hey Tbh i would completely ignore him it sounds like you are doing reasonable things to keep them quiet and to put it quite bluntly if he wants to sleep in then it's his problem. If you have nothing in the deeds then he has nothing to throw at you and even if he complains to the council they will do absolutely nothing about it so don't let it stress or get to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooklady Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Miserable old man. Some people have got nothing better to do. I have to brilliant neigbours I am so lucky, the lady one side said the girls reminded her of happy childhood days. And the other has a roudy teenage daugther who has parties and disturbs people so they don't have a leg to stand on but the mum is nice, kids take advantage when she's not around!! I hope he mellows, none of us need this sort of agro, life is too short. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scramble Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Some people are so snooty and nasty aren't they? One of my little pekins makes quite a loud noise when she wants to and the neighbours never complain and they have a new baby - but she just adores them Hope something works out soon Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 I'm lucky that because i have always shut mine in they don't make a noise before 7.30 weekdays and 8 weekends. I can hear them chattering in the cube but thats it. I have one loud , drunken neighbour at end of my garden who i can imagine of anyone complainig but i wouldn't care if he did Since yesterday we now have 3 gardens in a row with chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bondinho Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Sorry to hear your troubles - there are plenty of whingers around though. I personally wouldn't bother wasting your time baking a cake or giving him eggs, keep them for yourself. If someone has complained about noise and lack of sleep then a cake is not going to make him suddenly forget about it all! Some people just need to get on with it - one of my neighbours is an elderly woman who barely ever steps out of her house and she wrote me a letter last September stating that the last year had been the worst year of her life due to the noise my chickens make. She feels like a burglar in her own home as whenever she opens her windows it would set my chickens off. It does get me worried that all my neighbours hate me and I don't like going in the garden as I know she just watches me from her living room! But if she replaced the broken 4ft fence that is on her boundary then most of her problems would go away - the chooks wouldn't see windows opening etc, out of sight out of mind for her perhaps. And I'd have a nice new 6ft fence to make my garden private! Anyway, I'd just try to forget about it and just get on with your life. My mate works for the council and he said it is extremely unlikely they would ever make someone get rid of chickens, except for welfare issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westleigh Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 yeah dont bother with the free eggs or cake,buy a trampoline and put it in your front garden for all the local kids to play on and a spot light for them when it gets dark hee hee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 yeah dont bother with the free eggs or cake,buy a trampoline and put it in your front garden for all the local kids to play on and a spot light for them when it gets dark hee hee Genious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avalon Fantasy Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Just chuckling at the variety of posts. Firstly, Hi everyone, been away a while.. mucho busy with wedding shows ect and of course the darlings.. I`m sorry to hear/ read of your unkind neighbour... Regarding *idiot* neighbours, well, lets see now, stuff that goes on in a morning?.. birds flying about landing and squabbling, pigeons crows and rooks making a racket, springtime theres a caccophany of birds feeding youngsters...cats dogs screetching and barking, cows mooing, sheep bleeting... I wonder how many more things I should write down? Its stupid..so what? this is life, we live on a planet with things that do more than go bump in the night.. Oh and as for the person that says the neighbours chickens start up* as it were when she opens a door..well she should be blasted grateful quite honestly.. Consider them as guard chickens.. A long story short, I have a cockeral in with my girls (rescued.. you can have a look see at their webpage if you want to read more and indeed why...L.. Chikky acts as a guard, its brilliant.. I live in a semi rural area and of course as is the way, many crimes happen during the day but with the girls and chikky even our milkman says he couldnt tiptoe in here withought a chorous of clucking and crowing! In all seriousness as has been mentioned, dont be put on the back foot, you ensure that YOU keep your diary or whatever, re comments said, times dates ect.. its surprising that some people are so dense they think that they can say or intimate something meant to worry you and that you are going to just roll over and take it. Good Luck with any further problems, and.. consider taking the initiative... Some people may say this is a gamble, but you know taking the wind out of someones sales can sometimes be very VERY effective... I refer to the local council ect... contact them yourself..! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
