We're new to chicken ownership--live outside the city limits in a suburban area, 8/10 of an acre lot so I CAN'T afford to fence it. My problem is our 5 hens have taken to ranging from their coop, PAST our house, and invading the neighbor's front yard, planting areas and front porch rather than utilize the greater part of our lot that's adjacent to their coop. Picture their coop roughly in the center of our yard with our house to the left and lots of awesome suburban landscape (but admittedly little cover) to the right.
I need ideas on how to dissuade them from crossing over my driveway into my neighbor's yard. I've purchased a bobble head owl decoy and 'posted' it in the small sliver of yard between my driveway and the "off limits" neighbor's yard. I've read reviews that they don't scare away hawks or pidgeons (as they're often sold for bird and garden critter control) but I'm really hoping it will scare my chickens! Haven't had a chance to see their reaction to it yet, if it doesn't work, it's going back to the hardware store where I bought it.
Electric poultry fence is a little pricey for what I can afford right now too, and I'm not wild about having to move it every time we need to mow. The neighbor doesn't respect the lot line when HE mows, so until I can afford to put up a proper picket fence, I really can't string up a temporary chicken wire fence there either. Let's face it, this is the burbs and what your yard LOOKS like matters.
The owl was literally the only thing I could think of, if it doesn't work, perhaps a kite that looks like a hawk (saw some on Amazon.) Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
I need ideas on how to dissuade them from crossing over my driveway into my neighbor's yard. I've purchased a bobble head owl decoy and 'posted' it in the small sliver of yard between my driveway and the "off limits" neighbor's yard. I've read reviews that they don't scare away hawks or pidgeons (as they're often sold for bird and garden critter control) but I'm really hoping it will scare my chickens! Haven't had a chance to see their reaction to it yet, if it doesn't work, it's going back to the hardware store where I bought it.
Electric poultry fence is a little pricey for what I can afford right now too, and I'm not wild about having to move it every time we need to mow. The neighbor doesn't respect the lot line when HE mows, so until I can afford to put up a proper picket fence, I really can't string up a temporary chicken wire fence there either. Let's face it, this is the burbs and what your yard LOOKS like matters.
The owl was literally the only thing I could think of, if it doesn't work, perhaps a kite that looks like a hawk (saw some on Amazon.) Thanks in advance for any suggestions!