Electricbarbarella Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 my neighbour has just had a right go at me and told me that it is my fault that my chook has died of mycoplasma because the run is a mess, IO asm fuming and upset, for a start thjat was my pet aand I am rfairly upset to start with, and for a second I try everything to keep the run nice but nothing works, iot is muddy. I don't clean the run ot a lot, dig it over every few months and top it up with wood chip, is it my fault, I am starting to really hate my neighbour. she feeds the chooks and changes their water when she thinks I am not looking, I hjave put a padlockl on the run to stop her but she still seems to manage it. Should I clean the run out more, it does get a bit whiffy when it has been raining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Gosh! Is she still causing you problems? I should tell her that you are not happy about her interference, and as you don't know what she is giving them, and she might be the cause of the trouble! She clearly has no real knowledge or she would come out with such drivel. Sprinkle a bit of garden lime in the run, and it will make it smell sweet again, and won't harm the chickens as it is only calcium carbonate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squidsin Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Not sure I've read this right - but if you don't clean out your run very often, it would be smelly, wouldn't it? Has it got a cover to keep it dry when it is raining? What I want to know is, why does your neighbour come into your garden?! Mine aren't the interfering sort, but still, I'd be very unimpressed if they kept inviting themselves onto my property! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electricbarbarella Posted May 13, 2010 Author Share Posted May 13, 2010 I had a shower curtain over it, but I took it off half a couple of weeks ago as it gets so hot when the sun is out. she kept going out and putting it back on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squidsin Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Can't you just tell her to stop coming into your garden? It's trespassing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electricbarbarella Posted May 13, 2010 Author Share Posted May 13, 2010 she has access across the garden, is driving me potty, we got a opuppy a few weeks ago and she had a go at me about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 She has access only, she doesn't have the right to do any more than come and go, and maybe wheel her bin out. She is trespassing. For the record, I have seen Electricbarbarella's set up, and it is spot on. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Oh my goodness The cheek of some people eh? Is there no way that you can section off the area she needs to cut through to prevent her wandering around all over the garden?? Just a fenced walkway or something?? I would be very angry!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellykelly Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 I'd be tempted to hide the chickens indoors and place some 'asda ovenready' chickens in the run on their backs , legs in the air for the next time she interfere's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electricbarbarella Posted May 13, 2010 Author Share Posted May 13, 2010 thanks eglutyne I have been getting more and more fed up with her lately, my friend is round and has offered to go and have a go for me, too shy for my own good. Would have noithing to do with her if I didn't have to go and get my cat from her house every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squidsin Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 It's a tricky one as you don't want to get into a neighbourly feud, such things can make your life hell. Lock the food away and padlock your run and tell her that your chickens are on a special diet, and if they get sick from her feeding them, you'll hold her fully responsible. That should stop her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnb Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 ... she feeds the chooks and changes their water when she thinks I am not looking, ... Do you know what she feeds them? If so then wait two days and tell her that she can stop worrying about the run as the vet has got back to you and told you that it's not mycoplasma but apparently some idiot fed them [insert whatever 'treat' she offered here] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 You have my sympathy 100%. I have an awful neighbour and it makes life miserable at times. Luckily she cannot walk into my garden but she seems to have her head over the fence a lot or they take their fence panels down and stare into my garden. I recently found out that she has taken audio recordings of my hens on her mobile phone. They are not nice people and I have been told off by them quite a few times. The one thing which really angered them was when I had my sprinkler on and it got their fence wet. I was in big trouble for that and the husband didn't speak to me for 2 years!!! I am also a shy person and really want to get on with my life. I hate not getting on with people but some people just enjoy making life difficult. I don't say anything or stand up for myself-I just get sad I hope your neighbour leaves you alone soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Crumbs - sorry to hear about your problems. Firstly, I think you already know that it's not your fault that your poor hen died - no wonder you were upset, though. I've always had a policy of doing my utmost not to fall out with neighbours though - once you've had a row with them, it's very hard to go back but you still have to go on living with them! It also sounds as if she does care about the hens (and your cat) - just in a rather interfering way. If I were in your shoes I might actually try and involve her a bit more in the hens, so she understands their needs, however I don't know the person concerned and that might not be possible. I would definitely say 'please don't feed them - they have a special diet' or alternatively suggest things she CAN feed them, how about mealworms (not cheap!) or something simple. I sympathise - I had lovely, friendly neighbours at my last house but they were a bit domineering and the wife in particular always knew best. My elderly cat was diagnosed with kidney disease, and was on a low-protein diet but K would insist on giving her milk (something my cats never have anyway), salmon etc ... in the end I just accepted that I would never persuade her otherwise, the cat was obviously very happy, and that having a good neighbour probably outweighed this bit of interference. Only you can decide how much you can compromise on that. PS: If Egluntyne says your set-up for the hens is ok, then it is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 I really hope you manage to get your neighbour problem sorted out. It is not nice if you feel uncomfortable using your own garden or feel that your belongings and space are not your own. I would find it especially upsetting getting wrongly accused of being the cause of your chickens demise. She must have a lot of front to say something so horrible as that. Having said all that you will have to come to some agreement with your neighbour else life could become even worse. Maybe you could provide a container for her to put the treats in for the chickens and you can tell her you need to monitor the treat intake as it is effecting health/egg production. Or maybe suggest getting her started with her own hens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 What a pest. I would padlock run - if it was locked how did she get key. My neighbours havent said anything and I hope they wont - we are on friendly terms and she likes our cats. May bribe with some eggs. Can you block garden except bit she has to access. And google Mycoplasma and give her a copy. i feel sorry for you - chin up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 I like Olly think that you need to try not to fall out with your neighbour even thought they sound nothing short of awful. I believe in 'Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer'. If you are shy how about putting a few things down on paper and posting her a letter. You could say something like....'it is lovely to have someone next door who also cares about animals and it is reassuring that she is there should you need to ask her for help but I do find that...... and would like it if you woundn't mind not.....(yes I know it is a bit but you need to get her on side somehow). Is there any small task that you can ask her to do for you regarding the animals that might make her feel wanted? (even though she isn't) She sounds like she has nothing better to do that to interfere. People like her often try telling people how to raise their children.It is often born out of boredom and having nothing worthwhile to do in their lives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daffodill Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 Heck your neighbour sounds just like my mother in law- but don't get me started I am sorry you lost a chuck to that infection-I lost one yesterday the same way and its really upsetting. The vet thinks I have a carrier hen so maybe you have one in your flock as well so it doesnt matter how clean your run is-my cube is cleaned and disenfected every week and moved to fresh grass so what else can you do? Hope you can resolve things with the neighbour -some people just want to cause trouble I think they must have very sad lives Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
