Keeping backyard chickens has become increasingly popular. It’s a great way for homeowners to enjoy fresh eggs and become a little more self-sufficient. But one homeowner is questioning whether his neighbor’s flock is creating an unwanted problem.
After discovering that his neighbors had built a chicken coop behind a tall fence, the homeowner began noticing mice around his driveway and inside the family’s vehicles. Frustrated, he turned to Reddit to ask whether reporting the chickens to his homeowners association (HOA) would be going too far.
Mice were getting into the family’s vehicles
In a post shared on Reddit, the homeowner explained that he and his wife had lived in their HOA neighborhood for six years without experiencing this level of rodent activity.
He said mice regularly crossed his driveway and got into the engine compartments of their vehicles. His wife’s new car had become a particular concern, with droppings appearing every week despite his attempts to keep the rodents away.
He had tried peppermint, ultrasonic deterrents, cleaning, and traps, but nothing seemed to work.
Although he didn’t particularly care that his neighbors kept chickens, he was considering filing an anonymous HOA complaint. He was also reluctant to confront them directly because of an earlier disagreement over shared property repairs.
Reddit users said the chickens might not be the problem
Many commenters pointed out that chickens themselves aren’t necessarily responsible for attracting mice. In fact, chickens sometimes catch and eat small rodents.
The bigger concern, according to several experienced chicken owners, was how the neighbors stored their feed. Spilled grain and improperly secured chicken feed can attract mice and rats, especially when food remains accessible overnight.
Some suggested that the homeowner simply ask his neighbors to secure their feed and clean up any leftovers around the coop.
Others defended his right to involve the HOA, arguing that homeowners shouldn’t have to deal with rodents potentially damaging their vehicles because of a neighbor’s activities.
However, several commenters cautioned that removing the chickens wouldn’t necessarily eliminate the mice, particularly if other food sources were attracting them.
The homeowner eventually spoke with his neighbor
Despite initially considering an anonymous complaint, the homeowner ultimately decided to approach his neighbor directly.
In an update to the Reddit post, he confirmed that they had spoken and that the neighbor agreed to address the issue.
He didn’t explain what changes would be made or whether the mice had disappeared, but the conversation appeared to prevent an immediate HOA dispute.
The situation also highlights an important consideration for anyone raising backyard chickens. Keeping feed securely stored and cleaning up spilled grain can help discourage rodents and prevent problems with nearby homeowners.
