Any problems with neighboring flocks?

I have a closed flock, and two properties down a neighbor has free-rangers. Occasionally they wander in, or a local ring neck pheasant named Bluster will dance for my hens. I suspect him of making one broody! But because of the hardware cloth on the run and the topography of our land I can manage all right. I wouldn't have wanted to free-range my birds anyway and his will be gone before winter because of predation. Ahem .

I do treat my perimeters vigorously with food-grade diatomaceous earth to keep lice and mites from these and wild birds out of my run.

 

How close is close ?? Will they be able to get to each other ??

 

i think you would have problems. i have several small flocks, some standards and two different bantam groups. i let them out to free-range when i am there to supervise, but on alternate occasions - big girls one day, little girls the next day. Every single time i have a group out, there are always one or more that go up to the cage of enclosed chickens and pick a fight. Hackles flared, bouncing up and down, acting like fools - and i have all hens. i personally think having two groups housed within eyeshot would be bad for their stress levels.