Chickens got into my neighbors backyard!

[kellgirl360]

Thanks for the ideas! My chickens flew out from the top of their run...Although I would love to say I saw them do the damage, I wasn't out there so I cant. I am going to fix the top of their run today though, so they can't use that against me.

 

[Fluffnpuff]

I would apologize and offer to pay for the damages like buying them grass seed to repair the lawn, plants to replace what was lost in the garden, and then offer to do the work. And maybe bring them a dozen or so free eggs. It's far easier as a chicken owner to be on good terms with your neighbors. Having a neighbor that hates you in general will make life unpleasant. Sometimes it better to bite the bullet and swallow a certain amount of pride than having a situation where the guys next door frequently call in bogus calls/complaints to code enforcement or animal control.

That being said i recognize there are some people that are just so unpleasant it's impossible to please them and foolish to try. In the mean time take steps to ensure your birds won't be able to get to their yards like additional fencing and clipping wings.

 

[kellgirl360]

I will definitely add more fencing. I clipped their wings but they were at the age that they were still growing feathers so their flying feathers are all back now. I cant give them eggs because they wont start laying until July, but hopefully they will accept some when they do start laying.
Im just freaked out that they will call animal control because I have 7 chickens and the legal limit is 6. Hopefully they wont because they had chickens and ducks years before they were legal in the city limits.

 

[6of6chicks]

I will definitely add more fencing. I clipped their wings but they were at the age that they were still growing feathers so their flying feathers are all back now. I cant give them eggs because they wont start laying until July, but hopefully they will accept some when they do start laying.
Im just freaked out that they will call animal control because I have 7 chickens and the legal limit is 6. Hopefully they wont because they had chickens and ducks years before they were legal in the city limits.

Unless they truly hate you, I can't image they'd call animal control. Especially if you apologize and offer to pay for & repair any damages.

I wouldn't worry. Do your best to make amends and to prevent it happening again. Unless one of your chickens took a chunk out of your neighbor's leg, then honestly it's not going to be that high up on animal control's priority list. If for some reason your neighbor is insane and wants to start a war, then animal control will most likely tell you to pay the damages, maybe fine you, and if they even notice the extra chicken, then probably just tell you to get rid of it. Apologize, pay the fine & damages, promise to re-home the chicken, and then forget about it. Don't give your neighbors cause to call them again and that will be the end of it.

 

[AmericanMom]

Although we have an acre we have neighbors on both sides and behind our property line.. From time to time our chickens have gotten out twice one of our neighbors dog used our clucks as chew toys (bad for the clucks) Thankfully we have awesome neighbors who don't have a problem with the chickens, one even enjoys seeing them in her yard.. Given all this we still make every attempt to house our animals in our yard, there is the every now and again jail breaks but for the most part were safe... An endless supply of free eggs also helps and even tho it was their dog that killed our chickens we took over fresh rabbit meat as an apology to one of our neighbors..

Good folks living around you is priceless!!

Open the door of communication with the neighbors, as was mentioned talk to them, you may be surprised.