I have a question...of morals. LONG.

OK, here is the deal. I have a neighbor...not the nicest person. When we first bought our home he came over within the first week..saw we had dogs and said.. " I see you have dogs, if they come over to MY property, I will shoot them" I was dumb founded!! I promptly told him my dogs never leave thier fenced in yard, other than to come in the house. He jumped back in his truck, and left. Now, this guy raises Turkeys and Guineas. They free roam..and USUALLY into MY yard. I dont mind too much, but lately they are coming to my coops, chaseing MY free range chickens, and attacking MY turkeys through the fence. There are about 30 of his Turkeys out there, and probably 20 Guineas. So, this morning, my son and I went out there, corralled several of his turkeys and a few guineas in a covered pen. Fed them some corn ( they are soo skinny) Then let the turkeys out. I kept 2 guineas in the pen. Then his turkeys and the other Guineas went straight to my other pens, and was harraseing my chickens. I Chased them...and a Guinea flew into the hospital pen, and ran IN the coop. So I went in, caught it, and threw it with the other 2, in a covered pen. 2 Turkeys and a Guinea flew into the BO pen...so I went in there and tried to chase them out. Thats when a beautifull grey turkey hen few up, and came crashing down in MY turkey pen, destroying the covering for the pen. She ran IN the Turkey coop, and started eating with my Tom and 2 hens. I Tried to get her out, but in the mud, there was NO WAY to catch her. She is so UNtame...and quite frankley, a little scarey to me. She jumps AT me. So, I just went in the pen, and fixed the netting over the run. Now....should I try to get her out, somehow, maybe this evening, or consider her a "gift"? And the Guineas....is it wrong for me to keep them?

well, he might just shoot your dog, since you "took" his poultry. You never know with people, when the first time you meet them, they threaten to kill your dog.

Normally I'd say it was wrong.

But since your neighbor is such a first-class asshat, I'd say go for it. If he's entitled to announce that he'll shoot your dog, you're entitiled to announce that you'rd keeping his birds.

(But you might want to consider what the whacko might do after you tell him)

Well, He doesnt come over here any more....and can't see my pens for the thicket. These large turkeys of his have destroyed a rock wall around my front yard...chased my chickens into the woods...and pecked MY tom through the fence. I was thinking, by HIS standards...I would be able to shoot them...but of course I wont. They are just hungry, and are coming where they hear other birds, and I am sure smell thier feed. This neighbor, lives across the road, and down about 1/2 mile. His turkeys and keets come over here every day now, for the last month.

Deb, I'd keep them!

If he comes looking for them and says anything about you having them, then kindly inform him if they come in your yard again, you will shoot them!

In all honesty, I'd keep his birds. If he has a right to threaten one of your animals coming onto HIS property, you have a right to keep his. But when I left the house, I'd leave the dog inside, if I were you.. And keep a close eye on my own flock. But I would keep his birds seperate from my own, in case they have anything. If he was afraid of your dog threatening his flock, what do you think his birds were doing to yours? Just keep an eye on him, he sounds like he's a few nuts short of a fruitcake, if you're asking me.



Edit; Especially if he's not taking care of them, and they have to come to YOUR place to eat. You're feeding them out of your own pocket.

Anywhere we live, it is a universal truth that one always has one bad neighbor. Be it 15 feet away or 100 miles. The solution we seek is to build good fences and keep the bad neighbor from ruining your joy in the pleasure of keeping company with your fowl

If it were me, I would talk to him first, letting him know what action will be taken the next time they come over.

Oh, he would NEVER come looking for them, trust me. These poor animals are loose all day, every day. They cross the highway by his house, over the RR tracks....they go out in the fields across from me..and into my woods. They literally are loose, free rangers! I have seen several times, cars hit 6the brakes to avoid hitting them in the road. Sad really.

Sorry... I had more to say--i hate laptops--sometimes they have a mind of thir own...

Let them go this time, with a warning of what will happen next time. If and when it happens again....we're all coming over for turkey dinner!!