I live on an acre and a half across the street from a little league field. My chicken coops are set well back from the road right next to my house. I have two sets of chickens, one LF and the other banty. They alternate days out ranging as the roosters tend to fight with each other when out together.
The problem is that during ball season the field is crawling with families and children. Apparently these parents feel like it is a safe place and let their kids run around unsupervised. Twice now I have had little boys (10yo?) run across the street (a whole seperate rant) and wander into my yard to come look at the chickens. That's all well and good, except when they are out ranging. Both of my roosters have a track record of attacking people in their space. Heck, they'll attack me if they think I'm threatening their girls. (Granted, we have words when they attack me and generally they just give me a wide berth.) The few people they have gone for have been grown men wearing jeans so no damage was done. AND the men came by uninvited and were walking in the roosters' space without permission, so I figured the men were at fault. When I know people are coming to the house I leave them all locked up. But these kids are starting to worry me. My BO roo is a big strapping lad and could do quite a bit of damage to a child. Even the banty roo is pretty territorial and could hurt a child.
Should I post a warning sign or does that make me more liable? I don't think I should have to leave my chickens put up during ball season. They already only get to range when I'm home and can check on them. What I really think is that these irresponsible parents should watch their children better, but clearly that's not going to happen. I already have No Trespassing signs posted, but that's not working. I thought about a sign that reads " Roosters will attack". Am I liable if some child comes on my property univited and is hurt? How do I keep the darn kids away? I can't realistically fence the entire street edge. Plus, given the brazeness of some of these kids they would likely climb the fence. Grrrrrr!!!
Any hints or thoughts on the matter?
The problem is that during ball season the field is crawling with families and children. Apparently these parents feel like it is a safe place and let their kids run around unsupervised. Twice now I have had little boys (10yo?) run across the street (a whole seperate rant) and wander into my yard to come look at the chickens. That's all well and good, except when they are out ranging. Both of my roosters have a track record of attacking people in their space. Heck, they'll attack me if they think I'm threatening their girls. (Granted, we have words when they attack me and generally they just give me a wide berth.) The few people they have gone for have been grown men wearing jeans so no damage was done. AND the men came by uninvited and were walking in the roosters' space without permission, so I figured the men were at fault. When I know people are coming to the house I leave them all locked up. But these kids are starting to worry me. My BO roo is a big strapping lad and could do quite a bit of damage to a child. Even the banty roo is pretty territorial and could hurt a child.
Should I post a warning sign or does that make me more liable? I don't think I should have to leave my chickens put up during ball season. They already only get to range when I'm home and can check on them. What I really think is that these irresponsible parents should watch their children better, but clearly that's not going to happen. I already have No Trespassing signs posted, but that's not working. I thought about a sign that reads " Roosters will attack". Am I liable if some child comes on my property univited and is hurt? How do I keep the darn kids away? I can't realistically fence the entire street edge. Plus, given the brazeness of some of these kids they would likely climb the fence. Grrrrrr!!!
Any hints or thoughts on the matter?