Can my neighbour kill my chickens?

[psittacinekane]

Thanks for posting that link, but unfortunately it doesn't really help me. I'm in Ontario, Canada.

It's frowned upon when we remove people from our porches with shotguns too. I find nothing brings a Mountie quicker.

Texas sounds like a mighty inviting place right about now though and, although a great suggestion, trying to come to terms with him might prove difficult. Every time I said I was trying to be reasonable this morning, he got more irate, louder and definitely more worrisome. Picture a 35 year-old, 280 lb. male ... having a tantrum worthy of a two-year old, complete with stamping his feet and smacking the ground (with a broom).

My husband made up an emergency tractor this afternoon. Now I just have to worry about my "feral" barn babies.

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

Actually here in Va. last year a man's bull got out of the pasture and went into another man's pasture...they got to arguing about it and one killed the other..the bull is still fine...when someone has anger issues, let them be. Keep your chickens off of his land at all cost, even if you have to build a hen house and a run for them and let him know what you have done and explain to him that if you catch him on your property you will take a broom to him. I wonder about his wife,,,,maybe he is showing off on her too...maybe she needs help also.

 

[Dora'smom]

I think the best place to start, is to look at whatever ordinances or by-laws you live under, and follow that with posting "no trespassing" signs. He needs to know that your property is not his property, and that you are well aware of that fact. Keeping your chickens on your property, and making sure that he does not enter yours is the best solution. Terrier-type dogs are known for their relentless pursuit of small game (including, when available, chickens). I think you are lucky that your birds survived that little dog being loose on your property.
I wouldn't deal with the guy directly, unless I absolutely had to. If I had no other choice, but to deal with him, I wouldn't make nice, and I wouldn't make trouble. I would stand my ground. He should not be allowed to dominate you, and you shouldn't have to tell him you are being reasonable. He is not reasonable, and probably wouldn't recognize it in you, anyway.
It's unfortunate when subdivisions are built along farmland, as not everyone appreciates the animals that come with that territory, and the noise, etc. that can be a part of it. I don't know what they think they are getting when they move into such a situation, but I hear about it, all the time. Good luck.

 

[eKo_birdies]

Quote:
or you don't let the nutcase win just because he has issues. say your piece, defend your rights on your land, and don't be a sitting duck. not much better defense than several hundred lbs of gnarly dogs and a .40!

 

[rhodered10]

Im sorry to tell you that yes he does have the right to kill your animals if they are on his property the laws maybe differant were u live but i have a freind who used to have 2 ducks and the neighbors got angry because they were on their land and the next time the ducks went on their land they were shot and killed by the angry neighbors.

 

[CarriageStone]

Quote:
Just because that neighbor did so doesn't mean they had the right to do so. Here in Richmond recently an 80 year old man was charged with animal abuse for shooting a neighbors dog that had wandered on his property. If the dog isn't aggresive, you don't have the right to shoot it.

Think about it this way, what would happen if you were to shoot a deer for nibbling your roses? A goose for pooping on your lawn? A bear at your garbage can? All out of season. Trouble, right? If my neighbors were to kill my chickens, they'd be in a world of trouble (not in a violent way.)

 

[spoggy]

In Ohio, you can't kill livestock or domestic animals (cats dogs etc.) that wander onto your property unless they're acting aggressively towards you, threatening your spouse or kids etc. You also can't kill them unless they're actively attacking your own livestock. If your animals get off your property and do damage to someone else's property, they can hold your animals until you make restitution for any damage. It goes without saying that they can kill your aggressive animals as well (not suggesting you have any, buy I want to be clear that the scenario works in BOTH directions). I would find it a bit odd that there would be places where you could destroy tresspassing animals without there being a threat to self or livestock. Check your own state and local laws to be sure.

 

[Rozzie]

x

 

[arch_cpj]

OK heres my free 2 cents worth fyi I was a zoning inspector in Ohio for 8 years. One Im assuming your land is whats left of a farm that was split up If the base zoning of your land is agricultural or as it is in Ohio you are doing an agricultural business then as long as the animals are on yur property they can crow and carry on and to some extent stink all day long... Ohio is very ag friendly and there is alot in the constitution that protects ag... If your property was origionally ag and the zoning was changed to say R1 residential BUTTTTTTTTT you have not stopped the ag business I.e having horses or poultry you are likely grandfathered in and would be still OK If your not in an ag area and your in a less than ag friendly state you are in trouble... In Ohio if a guy came to me saying I want to build a barn and its ag it was up to me to prove he wasnt and thats not easy...

 

[arch_cpj]

Also and this goes for all in the group good fences make good neighbors butt as a zoning inspector put them 4 - 5 feet from your property line or as you work on it you are at risk of tresspassing... Also you need no tresspassing signs and they must have your farm name and address and a contact number in most states thay should be no more than 100 feet apart and In Ohio theres a vagury in the law if there is a potential hazard it must be warned well gas tanks tractors electric fence all hazards right????!!!! So what we did was to put up no tress passing signs and then went to Sears hardware and got some Hazardous area signs they stated that there was machinery and or hazardous substances beyond this point... Got the neighbors attention and never had them come over the line again...