Chickens

[primfarmhouse]

Chickens

 

[Chick Charm]

Giving them your own hens was a good gesture. Having peace with your neighbors is priceless. Taking all the emotional stuff out of the equation, your neighbor was compensated fairly. It was your fault they lost a chicken not theirs and you compensated their hen with 2 of yours. Seems that both of you are neighborly. And your neighbor came out ahead with an extra hen.

After all is said and done, hopefully you can replace you own hens with some that will be special to you. Maybe a super layer or an ornamental that you have always wanted. Focus on the opportunity and not the loss.

Wish ya the best.

 

[pipemum]

I don't see why the neighbors "Initially stated and agreed they should not let them out and left unsupervised for a lengthy amount of time (for the first time)." Their chickens were in their fenced yard, presumably safe till your dogs escaped and attacked. Not one iota your neighbor's fault, at all. I feel like your first two paragraphs are trying to displace blame that belongs solely on your dogs. Did you ever apologize for your dogs killing their chickens?

I think replacing the chickens at whatever they thought was acceptable or your own chickens as replacement should be fine. Emotional distress, pain, and suffering is pushing it. I'm guessing in this day and age you CAN be held liable for it, but hopefully your neighbors are decent people.

 

[primfarmhouse]

We take full responsibility for their loss. Their yard is small and houses on both sides with dogs fenced with cyclone on one side and wood on the other (our's) is the reason for the "supervision" statement. They do not clip their wing to keep them from flying over another reason. Our dogs are not ATTACK dogs so I beg to differ with that word.... The Golden is just 9 months old and the yorkie 2 years old,,,More of a chase and play with aspect....

 

[primfarmhouse]

And YES several times there has been an apology.......

 

[kbh82310]

I think they were pushing it with the$25-$30 a bird price. When they got them how old we're the birds and how long did they have them? I think you def did the right thing but knowing people these days I wouldn't be surprised if they try to get money out of you.

 

[primfarmhouse]

They hatched mid-April.... I got mine April 1st when they were about a week old.... This is the first time in the 30+ years that these neighbors have ever had chickens..For the last couple years they bred rabbits for suppertime meals 2-3 times a week. That always made me sad to see him walking to the rabbit hutch knowing what I did.....
The price seemed a bit high to me, but I don't know what they paid for the dozen pullets when they bought them. Maybe they overpaid? I just know I don't want anything to make misery between the two and just wanted to get some feedback on our way of handling this.... Thank You!

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Your dogs left your yard and killed their chickens on their property. I'd be really happy that they only wanted $30 for each bird.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Around here young pullets of a good egg laying breed go for about $20 right now, but depending on what part of the country you are in $25-30 might not be unreasonable, especially if you want one "now". Replacing their chickens with slightly older (better) ones of the same type seems to be fair to both of you. You have apologized and are taking steps to be sure it doesn't happen again, since there does not seem to be any question that your dogs were the ones in the wrong. As for what they could get "legally" for pain and suffering and emotional distress, who knows, people can and will sue for anything, winning is another question, I would love to see how that flies in small claims court. At this point hopefully your neighbors will be decent understanding people and let it go. Knowing them, can you think of anything small you can do as a "good will" peace gesture besides just replacing the hens? Treat for their chickens or something?

 

[kbh82310]

Yea even $25 is a lot for a 14 week old RIR. I could understand being upset you lost 2 of your pets but if they raised rabbits for years for dinner I'm willing to bet they didn't loose any sleep about loosing the chicks. They prob just saw the dollar signs..

Btw totally off subject but I love that you bought your childhood home back! That's my dream one day to get the house I grew up in in south florida back. I think about it almost everyday!