Busted!!!

[2DogsFarm]

I've been letting my little Flock of 7 freerange for the last year.
I'm at work from 8A until 5P and they were always on the property when I get home.
In fact, all come running to see what I may have brought for them.
No problems until now.

This morning my across-the-road neighbor's husband rang my bell at 7A, catching me in my Post-barnchore attire - very fetching

, hair looking like I combed it with the muckrake...

Seems my girls & their teen rooster leader have been crossing the road (Why? You ask...) and scratching up the neighbors' pricy landscaping.
oops

I apologized both for their trespass & for the way I looked.
Then tossed on a coat & boots to round up the "volunteer gardeners" & confine them to their fenced yard.
It is a generous space - approx 25X15 - for the 7 of them & even has some greenery bravely attempting to regrow there.

I assume I can expect some Chicken Wrath for depriving them of their playground.
Any ideas for persuading chickens crossing a road is NOT such a great plan?

BTW:
After I got cleaned up for work I stopped by & gave the wife 1/2 dozen eggs along with the offer of some composted chicken poop for her garden.

 

[texasgal]

You are a good neighbor..

 

[donrae]

If they've discovered goodies over there, I'm thinking you'll just have to keep them fenced in. They're determined little critters! Maybe you can devise a tractor to move them around out of the run?

 

[Eireitalia]

Oh, I am having the same problem! Apparently our five acres of grassy yard and shaded woods aren't good enough -- they are free ranging across the road for greener pastures. So far, no complaints form the neighbors but I don't want to cause a problem. Wish the silly girls would stay on their own terf.

Good luck with yours!