welsh sarah Posted September 2, 2007 Share Posted September 2, 2007 hi havent been about for some time, hols can anyone help me, my neighbour seems to think that now i have 2 beautiful chickens we will be overrun by rats any minute although i reasured her that i bring the food in every night! the main problem is her dog which wakes her up barking every night between 1am and 3am runs around her garden barking as if it is chasing something off, she is convinced it is a fox after my chickens as this barking in the night has only started since my girlies arrived. if it is a fox would i see any evidance, scratching trying to get in or anything else. my girlies dont seem worried by anything what do you think sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 2, 2007 Share Posted September 2, 2007 Yes, you would see evidence. Digging, paw marks, poo. You have grounds to complain about her dog barking at such an ungodly hour. Point that out to her if she starts hinting that you should get rid of your chickens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted September 2, 2007 Share Posted September 2, 2007 Maybe she shouldn't be letting her dog out in the middle of the night! I sometimes hear our dog bark in the night, but I don't let him out - usually it's because he's heard next doors cat in the garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh sarah Posted September 2, 2007 Author Share Posted September 2, 2007 thanks for hat i said to her that i would expect to see some evidance but without asking i did not want to make it up. i dont hear her dog so it doesnt bother me but i definately feel she is hinting that it is my chickens fault therefore they should go i think that if she has a problem with her dog then she should sort it out and not look to blame my girlies. i suggested to her that it may be a big nasty cat that frightens my cat and my girlies so she is looking to find out who`s cat it is then she is going to ask them to keep it in at night. i know what i would say if she knocked on my door and told me to keep my cat in anyway fun and games we shall have to wait and see, i will tell her i have done my research and we would definately know if a fox was about thanks sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James H Posted September 2, 2007 Share Posted September 2, 2007 well there would be avidence... interesting.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted September 2, 2007 Share Posted September 2, 2007 Give her some eggs in the hope that she will shut her gob! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh sarah Posted September 2, 2007 Author Share Posted September 2, 2007 i have tried that one some weeks ago, she did say thanks they were lovely, but my dog is still barking sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted September 2, 2007 Share Posted September 2, 2007 Ooohhhh, dogs barking in the night really annoy me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted September 2, 2007 Share Posted September 2, 2007 stand your ground and dont let her make you feel bad for getting chickens. Chickens kept well and clean and if you clear up spilt food you shouldnt have a problem with rats, we've had our girls for a year and touch wood no rats here. Lots of people keep pets in their garden - rabbits, guineas, ferrets, aviary, and your pet chickens are no different! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanchick Posted September 2, 2007 Share Posted September 2, 2007 The garden has been visible at night with the full moon recently and that's when my dog seems to be super alert to anything going on outside - even leaves blowing in the wind! He did con me into letting him out a few times and it became a very bad habit which I put a stop to pretty quickly. Your neighbour is just perpetuating the behaviour by letting him out and that's not your responsibility. Anyway, wouldn't it be the same if you had rabbits in a hutch outside? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh sarah Posted September 2, 2007 Author Share Posted September 2, 2007 thanks for your support i agree i dont think she is helping by letting the dog out when it barks and she admits that she doesnt tell the dog off for waking her up. i will keep my head down my chickens are very quiet and no bother to anyone i just think she has got a bee in her bonnet i am careful not to leave food out i bring the grub in every night so i can do no more thanks again sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancing Gal Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 I feel really sorry for you that you have this miserable neighbour. Sounds a right nuisance to me and obviously has no control over her own pet. Is your garden visible from her place? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh sarah Posted September 3, 2007 Author Share Posted September 3, 2007 hi no she could only see in my garden if she looked out of an upstairs window, we have 5 foot high fences which are covered in plants. sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 You can buy rat bait boxes for less than £4 (ones that other things like cats and chickens can't get into). bait costs £6 a kilo. It might be worth putting a couple of boxes out when you take the grub in once the chooks are in bed. That way you could tell your neighbour that you are making all reasonable adjustments - sorry I'll start again, that's a different thread .. That way you could tell your neighbour that you are making an effort and will have certainly poisoned any rats that may be around. alternatively get out there with an airgun and a torch - shooting the rats. If you happen to ping a pellet into the tail of any random dogs that are being a nuisance- well, it's not your fault is it? that's a bit tongue in cheek - I'm not really suggesting you take pot shots at her dog, that wouldn't be nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 Well, waddaya know! Suddenly, with no advertising, application process. form filling in triplicate, interview, HR involvement (grrrrrrr - now I don't need reminding of them), occupational health assessment, criminal record check etc. ..... ............. ............. ............. I am an all knowing superchicken. Wow Do I get a badge? Can I put letters after my name? No don't answer that ...please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 Ah but Richard, whilst you have been blathering merrily on, we have been undertaking a psychological profile on you! And yes, you are just as, if not slightly more so, crackers as the rest of us! Now isn't that reassuring! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 OK - so I've already had a Neo and a Hogan, and a Myers Briggs. Now I've had an Omlet psychometric as well. Funny how they all come to the same conclusion! Being dottie goes with the territory. And I don't care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogs Too Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 Her dog, her garden, her problem As you can see we have Dogs Too! but they are our problem and in law we are responsible for their actions, I must clean up after them, when in public keep them under control and at home ensure they are not a noise or smell nuisance. STAND YOUR GROUND and if required speak to your local council dog warden. That all said one does need to be seen to be doing the right thing so all precautions against rodents are required, here are my tips, Remove the feeder in the afternoon and the chicks will clean up the spilt food (nothing to attract the rats) Keep the run clean (nothing to attract the rats) Store the food in plastic containers, I got tiny dustbins form a local hardware shop for the food and corn and a larger plastic barrel with lid for the sacks of feed that won't fit in the bins (nothing to attract the rats) Store the feeder in a plastic container overnight (nothing to attract the rats) Store the bedding etc in plastic bags (nothing to attract the rats) Keep your store room clean and tidy (nothing to attract the rats) Keep an eye on your compost heap (nothing to attract the rats) Can anyone see a common theme yet I also have one of those ultrasonic pest deterrents in the store room. As I said her dogs her problem but do'nt give her ammunition. Good luck and I am on the side of the chickens Hope this helps!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh sarah Posted September 7, 2007 Author Share Posted September 7, 2007 thanks dogs too i am already doing all of your preventative suggestions i think she has not got alot of knowledge about animals in general so when she was told by a friend that there would be rats running everywhere and foxes prowling all night she believed them i could keep a dozen rabbits and not clean up their food and encourage rats just as much but i dont surpose anyone would mention that anyway i will keep my head down, my other neighbours love them so i am 50% there sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Rodents can easily gnaw through plastic containers so whilst I agree with most of Dogs Too's suggestions, instead of plastic storage bins....use metal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Rodents can easily gnaw through plastic containers so whilst I agree with most of Dogs Too's suggestions, instead of plastic storage bins....use metal. Yes, I don't use plastic, after my plastic compost bins were chewed to pieces by rats. I use galvanised dustbins, bought on line for about £19 each. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogs Too Posted September 8, 2007 Share Posted September 8, 2007 I must confess I would prefer metal but Her Indoors doesn't like them and they are expensive, so i check the plastic ones regularly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
