Our neighbours have erected a Chicken House on the boundary fence line, unfortunately for us it's also right under our bedroom window. I am a fairly light sleeper and am being woken up very early with the hens clucking / egg laying song etc.
Just wondering if others have had an issue like this?
I wouldn't bother trying to discuss the problem with the folks over the fence. Feel it would only cause me more grief.
Oh I guess I kinda wanted to vent , hence the post .
yea better not bother the neighbours with this. conversation never solved anything
just stew for ages, let your resentment grow, and be passive aggressive towards them for the years to come
or if you are actually looking for a solution that lets them happily keep their chickens and silently resolves your own discomfort, get some double glazing
As I said I will not be speaking to these people . I get on extremely well with all my neighbours , but have found these people unaproachable which is ok , but I don't feel I should be uncomfortable in my home due to their thoughtless arrogance. 😏
We actually had some soundproof boards made to insert into windows - but I miss my fresh air at night .
Most states have a minimum distance the coop must be from a dividing fence.
Here is a resource which outlines different states requirement for distance of the coop from dividing fence.
https://www.backyardchickencoops.com.au/blogs/learning-centr…
At the end of the day, you have two options. Talk to them. Or call the council if you think they are breaching what is permitted in a residential area.
Get a fox, and throw it over the fence. :)
How about trying earplugs first?
Then you have a fox problem.
I believe this line of discussion has been on OzBargain before. :P
Then you have a fox problem
Then you just get dingoes
But foxes make more noise than chickens, especially at night. It's like blood-curdling screams in the darkness. Worse than some cluckying.
Like possums?
Foxes sound different to possums. Foxes mating calls can sometimes sound like a woman being murdered. It's really unsettling. Possums sound more like a creepy ghoul rattling in the trees.
may be ask them to share eggs
When life gives you chickens, Make roast chicken
or when NEIGHBOURS give you chickens
Neighbours seem to be giving OP flies and noise
Just wondering if others have had an issue like this?
With chickens specifically or with general life communication problems?
Both - but the chooks are winning on this issue .🤔
I have been on the other side of this. We have been keeping chickens since last Summer. We live in the suburbs. All good until the weather got wetter, then the neighbour came over to chat with us. He said the wet weather made it stink, and the coop is very close to his bedroom window. He even offered to help us move it.
We didn't realise there was any problem until he mentioned it. We were happy to move the coop to keep good relations with our neighbours. We did that a few weeks later when we had a spare weekend.
My point is that most people will actually be reasonable and compassionate about this if you politely let them know that there is an issue.
What suburb / council are you in OP?
Caves Beach - Lake Macquarie.
Hi. I have a dog whistle (silent to humans). Whenever I see neighbourly behaviour I don't like I whistle for about an hour and send every surrounding dog bananas. I then infer the dogs are responding to the problem that I don't like. A critical mass of consensus builds and effectively obliterates the problem.
Sack up and speak to your neighbours directly ffs
As incredulous says above, most people are decent. Just nicely ask them if there is a solution as it's becoming an issue for you. Then report back here for juicy gossip.
Make me!
You have a right to peace and privacy.
Having clucking chickens early in the morning is no different to a barking dog.
If you dont act soon you will have a crowing rooster to contend with as well
Roosters can't lay eggs. :)
Roosters aren’t permitted in residential areas. Council can sort that one out easy.
😣
Can you move to another room?
No - not possible.
Have you tried moving your house a few metres to the right?
Yeah nope - 🤔
(c) be located at least 3m from each lot boundary
State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008
Current version for 8 February 2019 to date (accessed 8 June 2019 at 18:23)
Subdivision 21 Fowl and poultry houses
2.41 Specified development
The construction or installation of a fowl or poultry house is development specified for this code if it is:
(a) constructed or installed on land in a residential or rural zone, and
(b) not constructed or installed on or in a heritage item or a draft heritage item, and
(c) not constructed or installed on land in a foreshore area.
2.42 Development standards
(1) The standards specified for that development are that the development must:
(a) if the development is constructed or installed on land in Zone R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 or RU5:
(i) be not higher than 3m above ground level (existing), and
(ii) not have a floor area of more than 15m2, and
(iii) be located in the rear yard, and
(iv) for development on land in Zone R5—not house more than 10 fowl or poultry, and
(v) for development on any other land—not house more than 5 fowl or poultry and not house any roosters, and
(b) if the development is constructed or installed on land in Zone RU1, RU2, RU3, RU4 or RU6:
(i) be not higher than 7m above ground level (existing), and
(ii) not have a floor area of more than 50m2, and
(b1), (b2) (Repealed)
(c) be located at least 3m from each lot boundary, and
(d) if it houses fowls (including guinea fowls) only—be located at least 4.5m from any dwelling, public hall, school or premises used for the manufacture, preparation, sale or storage of food, and
(e) if it houses other types of poultry—be located at least 30m from any dwelling, public hall, school or premises used for the manufacture, preparation, sale or storage of food, and
(f) be enclosed to prevent the escape of poultry, and
(g) be constructed or installed so that roofwater is disposed of without causing a nuisance to adjoining owners, and
(h) to the extent it is comprised of metal components—be constructed of low reflective, factory pre-coloured materials if it is located on land in a residential zone, and
(i) if it is located on bush fire prone land and is less than 5m from a dwelling—be constructed of non-combustible material, and
(j) if it is constructed or installed in a heritage conservation area or a draft heritage conservation area—be located in the rear yard.
(2) There must not be more than 1 development per lot.
Thanks for this info 👌
You might want to buy a few rat traps, where there is chickens rats will come.
Hi Gail. I am now in this predicament. Have you been able to solve your problem
Hi all, i have similar story in SA, my arrogant neighbours have chicken coop 1meter away from bedroom window, (of course its far away from their house), zero empathy, cant open window for fresh air, rats and birds abound, and they have tried sneaking in a rooster 3 times in the past 3 years, when i tried to talk to neighbours the first time he tried to gas light me and said it was my fault for not telling him sooner, I had to get council involved for every rooster eviction, council has recommendations which are useless but nothting that they can enforce, youd think the black plague never happened and im just waiting for the next bird flu pandemic. if anyone has any info that might help please respond, thanks, ps double glasing and talking to neighbours is useless.
If you don't want to speak to neighbours, why post here? You may as well give it a shot speaking to the neighbours, you might get lucky and they'll move the coop to bother the neighbours on the other side.
Not the first time you've had problems with the coop (https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/435476), so I'm pretty sure your neighbours aren't Ozbargainers.