Bizarre question...

[enola]

Any free ranging neighbor chickens in my yard would be served for dinner.......

 

[littlelune810]

Maybe I missed this but does your neignbor know they are on your property all the time? Have you asked yor neighbor about possibly putting up their own fence?. You shouldnt have to look into a fence to keep your neighbors animals safe, which is what this boils down to- If someone owns an animal its their responsibilty to ensure the animals safety, not their neighbors.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Interesting thread....

You will have problems with your birds and his birds until a pecking order is established. Likely your younger birds will get hazed as the other birds have already established some territory on your property. It won't be a battle to the death (usually), but you will want to watch out for your younger birds. Flock integration takes a bit of time, but generally things settle in. Since you are dealing with a lot of land, the flocks will probably co-exist within sight of each other for some time, integrating slowly.

However, there is also a real issue of biosecurity and the fact that unless you do it, his birds won't likely be cared for in worming and parasite control...which will adversely affect your birds and risk large scale disease (something you really need to think about).

And if they are Red Sexlinks...they are laying now and have been for some time...all over the fields somewhere. Most RSL's begin laying at 5 to 6 months no matter when they were hatched and what the season is. If he doesn't care about them, I agree set up nesting boxes with fake eggs and start collecting the eggs. You might as well be getting them.

Have you considered asking the neighbor if you can have them or purchase them (very reasonably)...you are essentially feeding them already and they free-range on your land. (Actually, you have more ownership rights to them than he does but that could be a sticky issue if he doesn't see it that way). Maybe offering a gift back of half the eggs? (Just to keep neighborly relations...I honestly think he is being very inconsiderate.)

But if you want your flock and he wants his...the only way that will happen is if you put up a run fence around your coop to keep your birds where you want them and separate from his birds. You might consider maybe a guardian dog if you want to free range.

Otherwise, the flocks will eventually meld into one, but likely will roost separately if you keep yours up in a coop initially to establish them on your place....which means you'll get full care of his birds too if you want to maintain your birds health.

Or...let things go as they are and know there will likely be some consequences.

My thoughts
LofMc

 

[lazy gardener]

Hi everyone, I have a rather odd question, not sure where to place it so forgive me if this isn't the correct forum. I will be getting chickens within the next few months. Still unsure if I will be getting chicks or buying adults from local farmers. Since last fall, my neighbor's free range chickens have been coming over to my house. In fact, as soon as he lets them out in the morning they literally RUN over to my house and spend all day here, then go home to roost. The flock consists of 9 golden comet hens and their rooster. I do feed them, and give them water since they are here all day and it is a looonnggg walk back to their house. If I get my own flock (which I plan to let free range), will there be a turf war between the neighbor's flock and mine? I'm sure they see my land as their own. I do not want him to start locking his up, that wouldn't be fair to the chickens plus he probably wouldn't do it anyway since we have had problems in the past because of his trespassing dog he wouldn't keep off my property. Any advice or input would be greatly appreciated.

Are you getting a rooster? How many birds will you be getting? Does this neighbor still have his dog? I see several glaring issues here.

First, if you don't get a rooster, the neighbor's roo will adopt your chickens into his harem, unless there is a good tall fence between them. He will most likely take them back to his coop if you let your birds out to free range with the other flock.

Second, If the neighbor still has that dog, it's likely that the dog will attack your chickens.

Third, you should immediately stop feeding and watering these birds. Put your neighbor on notice that you will be getting your own flock. If you want to approach him about selling his birds to you, that would be an option. But, I'd not do an "partnership" or egg splitting deals with him. He's already proven himself to be a difficult neighbor to get along with. You have a perfect free range habitat. He does not. You should not have to fence in your flock while his flock runs rampant over your property. He will need to keep his flock home, unless you want the 2 flocks to mingle into one, and sleep where ever the roo takes them.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Lazy Gardner makes a good point. I missed the detail that there is a rooster.

His rooster will haze your new birds at first, then if he accepts them will lead them home to the neighbor's to roost.

If you get a rooster, the two males will fight for range and hens.

You may need that fence or will have to try to enforce property lines with your neighbor.

Lof MC

 

[FarmerMac]

Any free ranging neighbor chickens in my yard would be served for dinner.......

, Blame the disappearance of his flock to predators. LOL

 

[Trish1974]

Thank you LofMc and Lazy Gardner. I wouldn't have thought about disease or parasites being an issue; I'm glad you brought that to my attention. Yes, I have thought about offering to buy his flock, honestly that is what I would prefer since I have gotten attached to them. However, me and this neighbor do not get along. I asked him nicely to keep his destructive dog off my property, then had to tell him a little more sternly, then the third time I just flat out told him to keep his dog off my property of I'd shoot it. He laughed at me and said "no you won't", so after 3 calls to the cops and 2 to animal control no one did anything so I did. Six months later he replaced the destructive mutt with a German Shepard who also came over to my property, but this time the cops did step in because of it being an aggressive breed. He has kept his dog tied up ever since. So with this being our history I'm sure the only bird he will give me is the middle finger!

Last night I ordered 2 nesting boxes and dummy eggs. I'm going to place one under my old farm truck where the hens take their naps and dust bathes, and one under my deck close to where I feed them. Fingers crossed I get some eggs! If not, I'm not sure what I'll do. Thank you everyone for the advice!