Children trespassing

[CityGirlintheCountry]

But how do you keep them off?! They sail right by the No Trespassing signs. My dad calls the chickens an "attractive nuisance" much like a trampoline or a swimming pool. Trust an old insurance adjustor to throw this back in my lap! Argg!

Boyd- the puppy is an almost three year old boxer mix. She's a big baby. I have two boxer mixes, although one looks like a pit. They're both completely worthless guard dogs. They'll bark like crazy, but if they were out running they would only lick people to death. Plus, neither is terribly trustworthy about coming back on command. They would be out in the middle of the little league game snarfing up the baseballs and running away!

 

[vfem]

I got a similar issue... except the kids keep coming on my property to fish in our pond. We're putting up a small fence, with a no tresspassing sign. (Again, we can't fence everything in... but putting up a 50 ft section of fence where the walk up to our property)

Next to that my husband wants to add an sign that say "Not held liable for Rooster attack!"

Liable or not... The sherrif's department thinks its smart to put up a warning sign. Then they get to tell the dumb kids "I told ya so!" It makes NO difference to your liabity. That's why they have home owners insurance. In most cases, if they were to try to sue you for more the insuarnce covers... the courts will side with you based on a police report including a sign or fence with warning in your yard. Stupid is no longer an excuse!!!!

 

[Boyd]

Quote:
I've been trying to convince my wife our lil boy is a boxer-pit mix. The face of a pit, the body of a boxer, but more muscular. And yes, he is also a big baby. He'll growl and bark like crazy. You walk up to him when he's doing that, he'll roll over so you can scratch his belly lol

 

[kinnip]

That's a tough one. I have a lot of neighbors who like to bring their grandkids by to see the big tom turkey. I don't mind, but the tom seems to take exception. I've been quite lucky that everyone has informed me of their intentions before dropping by. I think a sign might be well advised, but we all know that kids aren't well known for their propensity to stop and read the warnings. Obviously, the parents don't care what happens to their kids-- until, of course, something happens to their kids. The folks who run the Little League may be more reasonable, since they would be held legally responsible for the kids in their care.
As an aside, I used to manage a Spencer's Gifts in a large mall. I never got over the number of parents who would just drop off their 10-12 y.o. kids at the mall and drive away leaving the mall employees to play babysitter.

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:
I agree with this. Some parents drop off children for those games and cannot stay for whatever reason. They are counting on the coaches to be supervising their brood. I'd contact the head of the league and address this. Tell them how serious this is and that a child~not may~WILL be hurt if this is not stopped, that your roosters have attacked before and will again, especially children, as they are smaller and have less confident body language.

As for signs of No Trespassing and Attack Rooster...they will not protect you. Children of that age are hard to monitor and hold to the letter of the law and you would have a devil of a time in court trying to prove culpability if a child was hurt on your property...especially since the animals were not confined to an enclosure. Placing signs stating you have an aggressive animal on the property makes you even more liable because you have foreknowledge that the animal was dangerous and children play nearby.

All of this info came from a friend of mine who is an insurance agent. He has dealt with payouts on issues like this. It could cause you to lose your homeowner's insurance policy if an incident does occur and you are held liable. He says, "Invest in a fence."

 

[Henrietta23]

Quote:
I was going to suggest something along those lines as well. I know that the organizers of our Little League would be happy to make an announcement like that.

 

[joerogrz]

Get a territorial Emu with a superiority complex and put in your yard... If that doesn't keep 'em out, they deserve what happens....

On a personal note, my BIL lived in the 'burbs and had two American Eskimo dogs. The male actually thought the property was his, even though there was little for him to have. A little boy (I won't say anymore about the boy) came into the yard and was bitten by the dog. Well the parents of the brat were upset and filed charges. The court ordered the dog to be put down. They had signs also warning of dogs being on the property.

 

[orcasislandchickens]

I'm sorry to sound negative but I have battled the same issue for years. If you own the property buckle down and fence it. I know, I know, I hate fences too, but this realy is a war you cannot win. You will still be dealing with rude children and parents next year, and again the year after that, and again, and again, as long as you live there. If it bothers you, eventually you will start sounding snippish and even if you don't you will still get a reputation as an unreasonable old child hater, as you repeat yourself over and over to each successsive group. For just as the tide comes in so will new groups of curious children with inattentive or lazy parents. Just as you obtain the cooperation of one group they will be replaced by a new group of younger ones.

As I said, if you own it fence it. I promise you even though the initial investment will be dear, the fence will pay for itself over time, in privacy and peace of mind. If you do not own the property or cannot fence it, you will need to fence the chickens in proper runs or reduce the flock to gentle hens only. Those that are telling you there will be no consequences if a child is injured on your property, will not be the ones dragged into court, if your rooster blinds some misguided little kid that thought catching him was a fun idea.

 

[Chicken Fruit]

I love kids. I love tresspassing kids. i love nosy obnoxious pain in the butt kids. Its just my hardwiring. I cant help it. I want them in my yard being out of control and in the way and asking lots of questions. Best of all is groups of kids. Even better are boys, loud, obnoxious, messy, running around like banshees. I've been raising boys a long while now, brothers, baby sat kids, nannied kids, have a son... I love it.

When I DONT want children in my yard I build FENCES. and my fences are tall and solid. The gates have hard latches, and can be locked. Problem solved!

Try a sign on a stake in the yard "roosters will attack, they can draw blood and leave scars! Ask first!"

In their minds the world is theirs. Their memories will be of that cool place by the field that had chickens.

They dont reason much beyond that. Like how it might be rude, or not their place, or trespassing, or how they might be unwanted.

lol. Ignorant little things. What bliss!

Try a sign. Its cheaper than a solid wood fence.

 

[speckledhen]

I'm afraid that a fence may be the only way to insure that kids can't come onto your property. There are all sorts of fences, some less expensive than others. I fenced two acres of my five with field fence and steel U-posts. We did it in stages, with the most important part, including the driveway gate, first.