*mummy_hen* Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 I am absolutely livid today Our chickens were always very quiet, only occassionally bok boked when laying an egg or were excited about something. We have had the ducks 3 weeks and they are also quiet, although when they do get spooked or are pleased to see us, the noise they make it a lot louder than that of the chickens. Well yesterday, OH had been out letting them out the runs and they did their usual 20 second scream of excitement and our next door neighbour (miserable as sin, lives on her own and generally not very sociable) knocked to say that the ducks were too noisy and she couldn't cope with it!!! Luckily OH answered or i think i would have lost it!! I monitored them all day yesterday and all day today and they quacked once when i let them out this morning and haven't since!! I am so cross, if they were doing it all day on and off or if they did it really early in the morning i would understand but once in a blue moon.....really, do these people have nothing better to worry about? I can't hear it from inside the house and she is never in the garden so it isn't like it is disturbing her in any way! Was really upset about it yesterday but now am just totally fed up. She said to OH....i was ok with the chickens, i just don't like the ducks. I think to myself - Excuse me?? Since when did you rule the street anyway! Arghhhhh There are loads of houses round by us that have chickens and the like...it's just typical that we end up to a miserable old bag like her and have decided not to let it bother me. We have children that live all around us and people with dogs, i would never dream of saying your dog is barking or your baby is crying and i don't like it!! I just don't get what is wrong with some people. We live in the country as well...she should move to the suburbs if she doesn't like animals!! Sorry....rant over now, just needed to get it off my chest!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 Some people are just not happy unless they are moaning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 some people just seem to think they are entitled to silence all the time. I'd tell her that if you felt the noise was unreasonable and it was going on for extended periods then you would do something about it but you don't feel that a minute or two of quacking is unreasonable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 I don't know why some people are so unhappy like this, but, I suspect that they are either lonely in which case they sit at home alone and work themselves into a tizzy about things, or its envy not necessarily about having, or not having chickens and ducks but of what it represents, contentment, peace, happiness etc. Either way I think it is they who deserve our pity. They make others lives miserable as thats how their lives are. Its a shame that she took this approach but perhaps coming in from the moral high ground will help resolve the situation. Perhaps you could approach her, saying that you are concerned that she considers the ducks to be a nuisance and that you are monitoring the situation, as well as taking advice from experts in a bid to ensure she is not disturbed. Keep notes for a week or so. If she mentions it again, ask her to make notes too, comparing them if necessary although hopefully by then she will have moved on to something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 My response would be well we absolutely love living round here & its really great that you take such a great interest in our pets. Glad you keep an eagle eye out for them....we are so lucky to have you as a neighbour And then walk off...my hubbie says the more polite you are it often shocks people so he is always gushy polite and it stumps them! good luck you just keep enjoying your animals...we have tons of ducks and they are only noisey at mating time in spring indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deejmum Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 Just tell her that you cant cope with the sound of her voice, and it's gone on for longer than the quacking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 Just tell her that you cant cope with the sound of her voice, and it's gone on for longer than the quacking! I like your style! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 Just tell her that you cant cope with the sound of her voice, and it's gone on for longer than the quacking! I like your style! second that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 I actually like to hear ducks quack... it's a lovely sound and like you say it's not for long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surrey Hen Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 I love the sound of ducks quacking - even more than I love the happy little bok boking of my hens - but don't tell my girls that or they'll be posting on the 'hen rights' thread!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Poor you Amy. She does sound miserable. I often think a new hobbie might be the answer, breeding alsatians or perhaps take up drumming lessons........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teri Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Poor you Amy. She does sound miserable. I often think a new hobbie might be the answer, breeding alsatians or perhaps take up drumming lessons........ my six year son old had a full drum kit off santa for christmas, i can loan him out my neighbours actually commented on how cute my chicks sounded, lucky eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*mummy_hen* Posted June 29, 2009 Author Share Posted June 29, 2009 Thanks all - you lot are a sure guarantee to cheer me up I do think it's silly though as i have noticed other noises around us a lot more since this happened, such as babies crying, late night BBQ, even a neighbour of ours playing her piano with the patio doors open earlier....to me all those noises make your street feel lived in, i couldn't think of anything worse than everything being silent!! Not going to let the silly old witch bother me...i want to enjoy my ex-batt girlie and my ducks, not worry about them making a noise all the time. Don't think she will be happy when i order my cube and get more girls.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jewels Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Poor you. Some people are just miserable and love to moan. I once lived next door to an old lady was all sweetness and light when we moved in and then one day turned to an absolute demon to live next door to. At the time I had two cats and she complained and said I should keep them indoors. My husband and I ignored her but then for YEARS we had to put up with throwing over our garden fence bags full of cats poo!! she actually went around her front and back garden every single night and picked it up into a bag and threw it into are garden. I was very unhappy there for along time because of this, even if I went outside to hang washing out she would come out and start shouting at me over the fence. We do not live there anymore, but I truely sympathise with you. Maybe your troublesome neighbour could come meet your ducks and her attitude towards may change. however I know what I would rather hear, ducks, birds, hens over cars and motorbikes. Reminds me also of the news story I saw not so long ago when people in the country were complaining to farmers about the noise their cows made!!! Chin up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...