Demanding attitude of some people, slightly annoying

[JuliaAnn]

Neighbor on one side has a daughter who has a boyfriend. They apparently know I keep poultry because as I was cutting grass today, the boyfriend appears out of the woods on their side of the fence and waves his arms to get my attention. So I turn off the mower and he asks me if I will give him some of my chickens. I was kind of taken aback, because I don't know this person, and I barely know the daughter of the neighbors. And I dont really know the neighbors all that well, to be truthful. I told him I didn't have any that I wanted to sell, maybe in the spring but not right now. And he actually *says* to me, 'no, not sell them to me--let me have them'. I just stood there blinking for several seconds, not quite sure how to respond. I knew what I *wanted* to say, but instead chose to say "No, sorry, I just can't give away my birds. It costs too much feed and time caring for them to just give them away'. As I was about to start the mower again, he says something about 'they're just chickens' and that I had too many anyway. ??? I just said no, sorry, have a nice afternoon, and started the mower and kept mowing. He stood there with his arms on the fence for several minutes, like nearly 10 minutes, it was odd. I never looked at him again, just kept mowing but I could see him in my peripheral vision. He finally wandered back thru the woods toward their house.

It must take a LOT of gall to just demand someone give you something, and then be so snippy and petulant when they don't give in!!

We have lived here nearly 30 years, and have had just a few problem neighbors over the years, but thankfully they were semi-transient types who eventually moved on. We have a group of neighbors that, like us, have been here for many years, and those we never have problems with. Likewise, I have always tried my best to be a good neighbor. I have never imposed myself or my animals on anyone, and I have never demanded anything of anyone.

I was really kind of shocked, to be truthful.

[TxAprilMagic]

Be assured if you have any to come up missing you know where to look.

[Minimomma]

I am afraid that with that type of attitude, I would be keeping a close eye and count on my chickens and make sure they are locked up whenever you aren't around.

[plowjockey]

Was he on drugs? Either that, or maybe he was intent on playing head games.

Young people want a lot of things. A live chicken is usually not one of them.

I'd be more concerned, than annoyed.

[paintboy]

It also means he has taken stock of everything else you have.

One sure way to scare him off would be to tell him that he can do some work for a few chickens.

[starjj]

I hope you have a secure place for your chickens because I would bet some will be missing. That is too strange that he would ask for free chickens

[ErinP]

Originally Posted by plowjockey

I'd be more concerned, than annoyed.

Me too.
That's not a "demanding attitude." That's just plain old WEIRD.

[Country Lady]

This has got to be a strange individual. I think I'd be a little afraid of him. Please be aware of what's going on around your place. This just doesn't sound good.

[Wolf mom]

Some with a mild retardation or moental disorder say/do things like this, coming across as having a sence of entitlement, but really having boundary issues. We need to find out what's really going on before making judgements like this.

But, because of this, I would keep a closer eye on my chickens though.

[D Lynn]

Yes, I'm totally with what everyone here has said. Indeed, WEIRD.

Actually, I'd be putting a lock on the chicken house door for nighttime, or at the very least, setting a boobytrap.

[highlandview]

I saw a bumper sticker the other day - Despite popular belief nobody owes you anything. Loved it!

[Michael W. Smith]

How old is this individual?

That certainly is very ODD behavior - and to have someone just come up to you like that and say they want them. And then you mention about you don't have any for sell and he then says, no he wants for free.

Now, I can see a 5 year old saying that, but someone whom I'm guessing is in his late teens? If he shows up again, specify right now you don't have any chickens for sell, but perhaps he can go to a local livestock auction.

I'd also make sure the chicken coop is locked. A good padlock or key lock. Keep an eye out close for a while.

Good luck.

[Callieslamb]

I know people that are just so self-focused that they can't perceive that you aren't focused on them too. It doesn't dawn on them that what is good for them...might not be so for you. sounds like this guy is one of them. I might think I needed to have a little chat with the neighbors about this kind of encounter.

[Forerunner]

I'd consider buying a large handgun (I like a .44 magnum, but .357 will do) and practicing with it fairly regularly, in your yard, during banking hours. That would very likely deter further contemplated mischief on the part of the young man in question.

[taylorlambert]

I find this happens alot with younger folks just think everyone owes them. I have had rent house dwellers down the road beat on the door and told me to come pull his car out of the ditch. I told him Id call him a wrecker but I wasnt pulling a car out at 2 am. The next thing is one runs out of gas and comes b and says give me some gas my car ran out. I told him I could let him buy some at the store or from my tank.

It goes on and on about the way they think they are owed something. I did notice one thing that most of them come from a long line of family that are raised on welfare. Im not knocking welfare but some abuse it. I had one kid come by that wanted to buy an old truck I had. I told him 500 cash. He got mad and told me he was under priveledged and I should give it to him.

[Reptyle]

I'm another who believes this guy will come to steal some...I'd go confront the neighbor...Let'em know what happened, and make it clear the repercussions if the boyfriend comes near you or your place again...I prefer the proactive approach rather than the reactive one.

[jen74145]

Yeah, creepy. But honestly, not surprising. The Little Red Hen wasn't published yesterday.

I have people find out I have a garden and they say things like "Ooh, I want broccoli!" and I'm just... uhh, grow it?

[JuliaAnn]

Well.... this guy isn't a teenager. I bet he's in his early 40's. I may have mentioned this before somewhere else, but this guy is a mooch, has glommed on to the neighbor's daughter, who is about 25, a few years ago. The daughter lives with her parents (my neighbors) who are I guess in their early 50's and in poor health. I guess I should'nt have said "I don't know him", but rather "I know who he is, but I don't really know him", because that's a more accurate statement. I know what he looks like, that he's the daughter's boyfriend, that he's glommed onto their family, but I don't know his name, where he's from, or anything else about him personally. He's a biker dude sort, has his biker buddies over there pretty frequently. To me, he looked dirty and ill.

Could have been on drugs. Don't think he has brain damage, but it's possible.

I was taken aback, firstly because he just popped out of the underbrush and waved me down to ask if he could have some birds, and secondly because he just stood there like a dodo after I said no, sorry, and kept mowing.

I do keep the door to the pen locked with a padlock because after hurricane Ike, I found out the hard way that raccoons can actually work open door latches and pull open doors. I padlocked it because I figured if I just hung the lock on the hasp, the raccoons would figure out how to pull it off. So yeah, it's actually locked at night.

Guess I'll keep a much higher visibility presence in the back, which is probably where I need to be anyway. I've added another garden bed in the back and was thinking about planting it with greens and peas in the next couple of weeks. The neighbor works for the local school district as a mechanic, maybe I'll go by the yard over there and have a talk with him, let him know what his daughter's boyfriend said. Just in case, y'know.

I'll buy some D cells for the infrared game camera too. Got just the place to put it too. I love that game camera. It's already done duty in helping to capture an image of a young hispanic gang member that tried to break into my grandmother's house about a year and a half ago. But I never did get the little picture card thing back from the police (;^)

Quote "I have people find out I have a garden and they say things like "Ooh, I want broccoli!" and I'm just... uhh, grow it?"" No kidding!!

[pastelsummer]

[QUOTE=Wolf mom;4661443]Some with a mild retardation or moental disorder say/do things like this, coming across as having a sence of entitlement, but really having boundary issues. We need to find out what's really going on before making judgements like this.

But, because of this, I would keep a closer eye on my chickens though.[/QUOTE/] I have to say i have a mental illness and never have icted as this person has. I agree keep a close watch out just in case.

[wyld thang]

it kinda sounds like the boy is "slow", or a little autistic--not necessarily thinking evil thoughts. if he asks again try seeing if he will trade work for the chickens? it's always good to know your neighbors well, even the weird ones--and know doesnt necessarily mean lovey dovey neither.

A few years after we moved in, the old man who lived down the road a tad, who used to own our house, and built it, asked if he could borrow a couple hens and a rooster for the summer(they stayed up here in summer, AZ in winter). It seemed a little odd kinda and out of the blue, but we said sure--hub was happy to have the rooster go crow somewhere else. It gave the old man and his wife great pleasure to pamper those chickens all summer, so that was cool, they were returned healthy and happy.

That couple have died since, we sure miss them! The wife had said I could come over whenever and dig up raspberry plants(not in exchange for the chickens necessarily we just gave each other garden stuff), but I feel kinda weird to go over there and go dig stuff up now, the house is just sitting there.