Imagine deciding you want to buy a house. If you saw a house that you liked but you noticed a lot of ducks and geese in the next door neighbor’s yard, would you still be interested in the house, or would the birds make you decide to look elsewhere?

In this story, a woman feeds ducks and geese in her front yard, but the next door neighbors want her to stop. They’re convinced (and probably right) that all the birds in her yard are the reason they are having trouble selling their home.

Should she stop feeding the geese and ducks? Let’s read the whole story to decide.

AITA For refusing to stop putting out food for the ducks and geese in my neighborhood

I live in a northern climate and have always put out food for ducks and geese. I put out cracked corn, oats, and sometimes some veggie scraps from my cooking.

I used to only do it during the winter when I know food can be scarce, but after a few years I started having ducks and geese come to my yard during the spring, looking for food, so I started putting stuff out for them year-round.

There are no regulations regarding this in the city where I live and for the most part I haven’t had any problems with neighbors.

Until recently.

Her neighbors want to move.

My next-door neighbors, a family of 4, are in the process of selling their house.

The housing market where we live has been crazy so far this year and houses are selling incredibly fast and in many cases, for far more than asking price.

Except my neighbors house has been on the market since before Xmas and still hasn’t sold.

The neighbors think the wildlife is the problem.

Like the majority of houses in my neighborhood, it’s an old 50s-style rambler that is in need of some work and updating. But it has not sold yet and my neighbors are blaming me for it.

They say that whenever they have a showing or an open house my yard is filled with ducks and geese and it turns off potential buyers.

They angrily demanded, not asked, that I stop feeding the ducks and geese so that they can sell their home.

I told them that their home not selling was not my problem and that I would continue to put food out for the ducks and geese like I always have.

The city got involved.

They threatened to call the city and the police and I told them to go ahead.

Sure enough, I got a visit from the city and they asked some questions about the type of food I put out for the birds and asked me to prove that I was indeed putting out food suitable for them.

They left satisfied with my answers and told me that I was doing nothing wrong according to city regulations.

I can understand why her neighbors are upset.

Last weekend my neighbors had another open house and as usual, my yard had a few ducks and geese in it. Less than usual as there are plenty of other food options available to them now, but maybe a dozen total birds.

After the open house the husband of the family came over and knocked on my door and started yelling at my that they had 2 potential buyers back out of deals directly because of me feeding the birds. He just kept yelling at me that it was my fault they can’t sell their house and that I am the one obstacle keeping them from moving.

I was very uncomfortable with how aggressive he seemed so I told him that he needed to leave my property or I was going to call the cops.

She’s not sure what to do.

He left but he called me a bunch of names as he walked away and the whole encounter left me kind of rattled.

I live alone and feeding the birds is one of the few joys I have in my life.

AITA for refusing to stop? Should I just stop until their house sells?

If she stops feeding the birds and then starts again after the neighbors sell their home, the new neighbors will be in for a big and possibly unpleasant surprise. It may help the neighbors sell the home if she stops, but it’s kind of like a bait and switch for the new neighbors.

Let’s see what Reddit suggests.

This person doesn’t think OP should be feeding the wildlife.

Another person agrees that it’s wrong to attract wildlife to a residential neighborhood.

This person thinks it’s obvious that she should stop.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a neighborhood that’s up in arms after HOA and city clash about whether or not homeowners can place cones.

Another person breaks down multiple reasons why she should stop feeding the birds.

At my local park, there are signs telling people not to feed the ducks. Some people ignore these signs and feed them anyway, but it really is better for the wildlife not to rely on people feeding them.

She never should have started feeding the geese and ducks. I hope she stops.

Her neighbors may have responded too harshly, but it’s understandable why they’re so upset.