squiffs Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 This got posted in the wrong thread: im not going to make life hard for myself, i like to put treats in the bars so they have to work for them a bit, im not changing my set up for someone else because they cant keep their hands and feet to themselves like a child!!!!! we only have a front garden but do have a high fence around it so even if you walk past you cant really see the hens, no trouble so far and my girls are so quiet they dont attract unnecessary attention wither thank goodness. i think the only answer is to electrify the gate! maybe i shouldnt have started this thread! its making me madder and madder! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henchanted Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 .....the Eglu needs locking up...... I think its the neighbour.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Could you say to her that you really appreciate the treats that she is giving them, and ask if it woud be possible for her to leave the treats by your backdoor so you can give them to the hens ("and" not "but") at a particular time of day. Explain that hens are like children. If you give them sweeties, they won't eat their proper food. Hens only ingest a certain amount of food each day, and if their crop is full of treats, they won't be eating their pellets. Hens need their pellets to give them the right balance of protein and calcium etc, to develop healthy bones,feathers and eggs. If she leaves the (much appreciated) treats for you, you can monitor exactly what they are eating and when. I appreciate that she's stepping waaaaaay over the line, and I'd be furious myself. From your other posts, I think she is just overly enthusiastic, so it would be good to get this toned down without squashing it completely. A neighbour who is happy to help out is worth a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mum-2-olly Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 (edited) Well she came over this afternoon to say hi to me and olly (my ds)..and it started again!!!! she said, "im glad you've got them another feeder cos they always look starving! and what are you feeding those chickens because you know you need special food to help them lay!!??" ah i thought my jaw might drop!! i just said "while we are on the subject of their food, please be assured that i researched them for over a year and their feeds are in perfect order perfect, thankyou"!!! i said this in a jokey way so she sort of laughed, i just said "in all seriousness i am dead grateful for you giving them your spare peelings etc but i had noticed that they werent eating as much as normal (which she had just pointed out they need to eat to lay!! ) so would she mind giving them to me or giving them, them after 4pm!" she was ok about it, i didnt give her a choice to be honest! she said she didnt understand why i was being so particular unlike her friend that keeps chooks to which i said when she got her own chickens she could feed them what she wanted! i pointed out she would be glad i was so particular when the eggs came and i was giving her some! all in all it went ok, it just needed nipping in the bud but i did it in a friendly way and it won her over really in the end! anyway forget all this i need to upload some long awaited pics of my girls asap! thanks everyone! Edited June 27, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 I'd punch her but that's just me Get a padlock and Ali I'm sending you one of my pills Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 well done mum 2 olly! hopefully that's nipped it in the bud. (I'dve probably punched her too... just to make sure the message got home!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 well done mum 2 olly! hopefully that's nipped it in the bud. (I'dve probably punched her too... just to make sure the message got home!) Ditto Are you never tempted to say 'I thought you didn't even want me to get chickens what do you care?!' Well done for sticking to your guns and being polite at the same time. Hopefully she's got the message. You still need to live next door after all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 What makes her such an expert anyway ? Well done for being polite and not losing your cool (it would've been so understandable ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Oh no she'd definitely get a knuckle sandwich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mum-2-olly Posted June 27, 2011 Author Share Posted June 27, 2011 well done mum 2 olly! hopefully that's nipped it in the bud. (I'dve probably punched her too... just to make sure the message got home!) Ditto Are you never tempted to say 'I thought you didn't even want me to get chickens what do you care?!' Well done for sticking to your guns and being polite at the same time. Hopefully she's got the message. You still need to live next door after all. i was v tempted to say this and whack her in the face, but 99% of the time she is a fab neighbour, i took it as good neighbours are hard to come by and i would rather her be polite, especially for when the morehens kicks in! ive already got my eye on a silkie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Well done! I think you deserve an award for tactfull assertiveness and negotiation skills! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Well done! I think you deserve an award for tactfull assertiveness and negotiation skills! yes - and you could set up training sessions for the rest of us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Well meaning busybodies are just so exhausting, lord forbid that you should actually say something direct to them lest you offend their sensibilities. It sounds like you have handled this very well...let's hope that in future your neighbour treats you and your property with the sensitivity that she seems to think she deserves....(can you hear my teeth grinding on your behalf!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Thanks Sara - gratefully received and mental note made - body armour needed if visiting Sara only joking love. Glad its sorted mum2 olly - just keep a beady eye on this woman - advise her you'll send the girls round if anymore trouble. I was amazed how incensed one can get when reading posts - I wanted to give her a slap. Just glad its sorted -Ali x - wanders off to get her pills Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Note to self.... Do not upset fellow Omleteers Never realised what a violent lot you are.. seem so lovely on here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartfast Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 It sounds to me that she is perhaps a little lonely, maybe suggest to her that she gets a couple of ex-batt to keep her company......maybe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Yup a couple of ex batts with a batty woman - all batts together - Margaret we are lovely really - just dont upset us mainical laughter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Please note before you all kill me I love ex batts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I think you have been very diplomatic mum-2-olly I hope it has worked. Your neighbour seems to me to be frankly patronising, and that would really get my goat. But good on you for your calm approach. One thing I have noticed from this thread is that your chooks are very vulnerable to theft if just anyone can get in. You are also open to people 'dropping in' the odd unwanted cockerel. So it might be no bad thing to put your post box on the outside of your gate, American style. You could then explain to your neighbour that you felt you needed to up your chooks' security generally, making it clear it is nothing to do with what she has been up to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 making it clear it is nothing to do with what she has been up to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 By 'dropping in an unwanted cockerel' - do you mean, they don't want it, so they put it in your garden? Do people do that sort of thing?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egglicious Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I think you have been very diplomatic mum-2-olly I hope it has worked. Your neighbour seems to me to be frankly patronising, and that would really get my goat. But good on you for your calm approach. One thing I have noticed from this thread is that your chooks are very vulnerable to theft if just anyone can get in. You are also open to people 'dropping in' the odd unwanted cockerel. So it might be no bad thing to put your post box on the outside of your gate, American style. You could then explain to your neighbour that you felt you needed to up your chooks' security generally, making it clear it is nothing to do with what she has been up to. Ha- I never thought of mailboxes on the outside of our gates as being an american thing but I guess it is. Also, if you move your mailbox here you will not receive your mail as it is against the law! I also want to know if people really drop off unwanted cockerels into someone else's lawn... for real???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfer_chicken Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Ha- I never thought of mailboxes on the outside of our gates as being an american thing but I guess it is. Also, if you move your mailbox here you will not receive your mail as it is against the law! I also want to know if people really drop off unwanted cockerels into someone else's lawn... for real???? Is it really against the law to move you mailbox? I never realised A few people around here with 'free ranging' dogs have external letterboxes, so I guess our postman doesn't care Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Ha- I never thought of mailboxes on the outside of our gates as being an american thing but I guess it is. Also, if you move your mailbox here you will not receive your mail as it is against the law! I also want to know if people really drop off unwanted cockerels into someone else's lawn... for real???? Is it really against the law to move you mailbox? I never realised A few people around here with 'free ranging' dogs have external letterboxes, so I guess our postman doesn't care In america it's illegal, in the UK it isn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egglicious Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Ha- I never thought of mailboxes on the outside of our gates as being an american thing but I guess it is. Also, if you move your mailbox here you will not receive your mail as it is against the law! I also want to know if people really drop off unwanted cockerels into someone else's lawn... for real???? Is it really against the law to move you mailbox? I never realised A few people around here with 'free ranging' dogs have external letterboxes, so I guess our postman doesn't care It could vary state to state but I know in California it is illegal. Not sure about Washington, though (where I live now). Kinda makes sense for us because the mailpeople have very specific routes and sometimes it is timed so that they don't even get out of their little car. Back to people dropping off cockerels... I want to hear about this!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
