Chickens and Neighbors

I have had free ranging chickens for four years with no complaints until today. The neighbor two doors down is now complaining about my chickens coming over. The problem is, he and his wife put food and water out for them. Another neighbor complains and I ask what he is feeding them. He said pizza. Now come on, to a chicken that's something they aren't going to pass up and they will remember where they got it. Now, I understand their frustrations, but they are part of the problem. I am open for suggestions?

John

Ooo that sux. Is there any way you could prevent them from leaving or entering their areas but keep them free range? That's a bit of a pickle isn't it? I'd point out right to them, as you did, you complain them coming but you're feeding them. Please stop and they won't come over. I know it can't be that easy though.

I might add, I live in Southern Maine on 3.5 acres. Here in Maine we have ticks bad, really bad and that was the reason for the chickens in the first place. We were pulling them off the kids and dogs daily, I myself think I got lymes disease (as I had the early signs) and went through the treatment and thankfully caught it early. There is definitely a noticeable drop in the tick population when they are out (not to mention the eggs get better). Putting up a fence would be challenging expensive and come with some liability as the lot line runs weird and any way I go I would have to cross onto other neighbors property to make the fence effective. To me, it boils down to if they aren't your chickens, don't put out a buffet for them. They might not be the smartest animals, but they are smart enough to remember where to get a free meal. I plan to let them out later in the day so they have a couple hours to roam and hopefully they will stick closer to home. The other possibility is to start a new flock that hasn't been programmed with these bad habits. I suggest the only place to feed chickens is in the coop area. Any food outside the coop area, is scavenge only.

Why are they feeding them and complaining? Sounds stupid. Any animal will come back for food, and pizza?! That's horrible for them I'd say only way is to put up a fence. Have you heard of fencing that works for chicensus like extricate fencing for dogs? You can just border your neighbors yard so they don't go in that direction? I have heard of this for chickens

2008jkf said:

I have had free ranging chickens for four years with no complaints until today. The neighbor two doors down is now complaining about my chickens coming over. The problem is, he and his wife put food and water out for them. Another neighbor complains and I ask what he is feeding them. He said pizza. Now come on, to a chicken that's something they aren't going to pass up and they will remember where they got it. Now, I understand their frustrations, but they are part of the problem. I am open for suggestions?

John

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You could start by telling your neighbors not to feed them. Then start leaving them out just before they would be locked up at night. Each day let them out a bit earlier. Hopefully they will get out of the habit of visiting your neighbors. Or you don't have to fence in your entire area. Get some post, hammer into the ground and hang some inexpensive rolled fence.
Or, depending on the number of chickens you have you could get panels similar to a dog exercise pen to enclose them. This structure could be moved as needed.

Maybe you can build some large tractors you can move around so they can still get ticks in different areas?