Finding Neighbor’s dead chickens every day

[Sunshade82]

Hi everyone, my mom has joined the backyard chicken family but doesn’t do much technology so I’ll post on her behalf.
We’ve worked really hard to ensure her chickens have a safe coop and run. Safe from predators and the brutal summer heat.
Her next door neighbors are more relaxed when it comes to animals. Their birds have bare minimum. A couple open coops, kiddie pool in the sun, and a tarp for shade.
We try to not look over there cause it’s sad but she sees them roosting on the shared wall, exposed at night. Also one of their chickens comes in my mom’s yard daily to lay an egg and my mom is quite fond of her.
Starting 2 weeks ago, she started finding dead chickens in her yard. They all belong to her neighbor. I’m thinking a raccoon. (Her other neighbor saw a whole raccoon family on camera.) The carcasses usually have their stomachs/necks eaten and they’re brought in her yard and dumped.
We knew it was just a matter of time before a predator got them. But we thought after the first couple losses, they would secure their chickens at night. They don’t really seem to care. They just get more chickens.
Anyway, this is really hard on my mom. She’s very sensitive when it comes to animals and having to deal with the dead mangled bodies every day is taking its toll on her. It’s also a hassle as she has to clean up her yard daily before letting her dogs out.
I’m also concerned the raccoons will see this area as a reliable food source, putting my mom’s chickens at risk in the future.
Is there anything we can do? Do they have any legal obligation to protect their animals? We are in southern Utah.

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

I’m going to ask the obvious question, just so it’s covered. Have you spoken to the neighbors?

 

[Sunshade82]

I’m going to ask the obvious question, just so it’s covered. Have you spoken to the neighbors?

Yes she has. They acknowledged they needed to secure them better but that the chickens don’t want to go in the coop at night. (Coop is hot and not locked up anyway)
They were going to put out some live traps to catch the raccoons but nothings been done yet.
Every time my mom finds a dead chicken she texts them and puts it in a bag by their garbage in case they want to see who died.
Now I think they’re getting tired of her texts.

 

[Seaslug]

I would find this upsetting as well. Is there any way for your mom to put up some fencing between her property and the neighbor's? Something to make it less convenient for the predator to bring its prey into her yard? She likely is not going to convince the neighbors to care about the animals in their care; decreasing the chances of both her and her dog coming across the remains may be the best outcome that can be achieved.

 

[McChooky]

Have your mom send them an email with a photo of every carcass found on your property.You might be able to charge them a clean up fee if the animals carcass isn't retrieved.They may deny its theirs

 

[SamLockwood]

Tell your mom to make sure her coop & run are a secure as possible, maybe even beef up the defenses. When your neighbor runs out of chickens, those raccoons will start coming for yours.

 

[McChooky]

Tell your mom to make sure her coop & run are a secure as possible, maybe even beef up the defenses. When your neighbor runs out of chickens, those raccoons will start coming for yours.

My neighbors had 30-40 chickens in a 3 sided coop inside a 4 ft fence. (The coop didn't have a door)Every time he forgot to water or feed them they'd fly over the fence and his dogs killed them.

 

[Sunshade82]

I would find this upsetting as well. Is there any way for your mom to put up some fencing between her property and the neighbor's? Something to make it less convenient for the predator to bring its prey into her yard? She likely is not going to convince the neighbors to care about the animals in their care; decreasing the chances of both her and her dog coming across the remains may be the best outcome that can be achieved.

There is a 5 ft high block wall between them already. Maybe she could add something on top? (Barbed wire comes to mind)
She’s started putting their dead chickens on top of the wall for them to see. Today her dog brought in a chicken head. I told her to put the head on the wall with a note that says happy Halloween.

 

[Sunshade82]

Have your mom send them an email with a photo of every carcass found on your property.You might be able to charge them a clean up fee if the animals carcass isn't retrieved.They may deny its theirs

I told her as much as I enjoy her daily carcass pictures, she should sent it to them. She doesn’t think that’s appropriate but giving the circumstances, i think it is.
She also needs to start communicating with the husband. The wife is just ghosting her now.

 

[Sunshade82]

Tell your mom to make sure her coop & run are a secure as possible, maybe even beef up the defenses. When your neighbor runs out of chickens, those raccoons will start coming for yours.

This is my biggest fear. Not only does she have her 6+8+4 hens, I moved my coop and integrated my remaining 3 old ladies over there. She needed another coop (chicken math happened, plus its easier to help her if they’re all together.)
My coop is secure like Fort Knox. So I know they’re safe at night. During the day they’re more exposed though. I told her she needs to start keeping them in the run but “they’re so happy roaming the yard”.
I’m going to screenshot your message and send it to her. But in the meantime, Do raccoons ever attack during the day?