Help! Chicken won't stop going in neightbor's yard...

[kota1369]

Yep..... I think you know the answer.
Next thing you know your chickens will end up disappearing into someones pot. And noone will have any idea what happened to them.
Put up a fence or tractor them.

 

[RileyB]

So of course today (when I had the time to spend the day chasing chickens out of the neighbor's yard) the birds stayed away from the neighbor's ALL day.
We'll see what happens tomorrow!

 

[carolwfuller]

I had 8 hens and they found their way to the neighbors green lawn a month after I got them. The neighbor complained badly (their little kids and the moms screamed when they saw them and the grandpa called me. II was ****** but did fence the area they went through. I used 4 ft chicken wire held up by green garden stakes. We did 200 ft. Pretty easily and quickly, even through the woods between us. They have not found their way around it. But of course the neighbor never had a positive comment!

 

[coffeenutdesign]

In the past I have used an aluminum dog run to put my chickens in out in the yard, one of those chain link numbers that is about 6 feet tall. You could run some mesh around the bottom to keep their little heads in, but I never had a problem with them getting stuck or anything. It was a nice big yard for them to move around in but kept them contained and it was lightweight so it was easy to move. I would do this when I wanted a certain part of the yard to get eaten off.

Have you talked to the neighbor about it? Maybe they aren't that upset or maybe if they know you are trying then they won't be as upset yet. They might even help you figure out a solution. I used to have a neighbor whose goats and chickens would come visit all the time. I didn't really care too much. Even had a hen go broody on my back porch and hatched out a ton of little black chicks. My kids were little. It was fun to watch and teach them. This was before I got my own chickens.

 

[RtSixtySixChix]

Last Fall, a note was placed in our mailbox telling us to keep our chickens in our own yard. Since then, I was always going outside to check on the chickens, making sure they were OK. After planting our garden this Spring, I decided it was time to fence them in. I didn't care for the idea of fencing them in at first, but as soon as I did it, I was instantly relieved...No more worrying about them wandering out into the road or across the street into the neighbors yard. I used temporary fencing, the netted kind. 100 ft of fencing gives my flock of 8 a very nice yard. And I can move the fence from time to time to give them fresh grass. I bought my fencing from Premier 1 and was very pleased with the price, speedy delivery and it was easy to install. I am planning to build a better gate for the yard...something lightweght but more efficient than overlapping sections of the netted fencing. Here's a picture of my chicken yard...

 

[DianaMallory]

Make a run for your chickens and STOP LETTING THEM RUN LOOSE! Not only is it a nuisance to your neighbors but it a danger to your chickens! You can put them in a run! And be sure to use hardware cloth not chicken wire! They will still be considered free range, it will just be in their own area!

 

[DianaMallory]

Last Fall, a note was placed in our mailbox telling us to keep our chickens in our own yard. Since then, I was always going outside to check on the chickens, making sure they were OK. After planting our garden this Spring, I decided it was time to fence them in. I didn't care for the idea of fencing them in at first, but as soon as I did it, I was instantly relieved...No more worrying about them wandering out into the road or across the street into the neighbors yard. I used temporary fencing, the netted kind. 100 ft of fencing gives my flock of 8 a very nice yard. And I can move the fence from time to time to give them fresh grass. I bought my fencing from Premier 1 and was very pleased with the price, speedy delivery and it was easy to install. I am planning to build a better gate for the yard...something lightweght but more efficient than overlapping sections of the netted fencing. Here's a picture of my chicken yard...

Like she said No more worries! PEN THEM UP!

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Seems like chickens always head for that one place you don't want them. I think you're onto the right idea, use the dog to discourage traveling, and food to encourage staying at home. Call them with some scratch at the time they like to head over there. Dig up a small area far away from there to let them scratch for bug (chickens love newly turned earth) you could even set up an automatic wildlife feeder to draw them to the places you want..set the timer to go off at that time and when your not home it will still bring them in. Being a good neighbor means being patient with others pets that wander and do no harm, as long as you're working on a solution it shouldn't cause a feud.!? Chickens actually don't need miles of territory, just lots of variety in the area they have...good luck wrangling! Oh, you could get a pony to herd with too! that could make it more fun.

 

[RileyB]

Make a run for your chickens and STOP LETTING THEM RUN LOOSE! Not only is it a nuisance to your neighbors but it a danger to your chickens! You can put them in a run! And be sure to use hardware cloth not chicken wire! They will still be considered free range, it will just be in their own area!

Why is it a danger to the chickens? Do you mean free ranging in general or them getting into the neighbor's yard? Actually...the one bird I have lost so far was killed by a predator in the coop/run. They have all been perfectly fine free ranging.

I have discovered that I can simply call the chickens back and they come right over. My neighbors also said they didn't mind. So...while I am still working on a long term solution, it is not as immediate an issue as I originally thought.

I have noticed many people have been very heated when replying to this post (e.g. many exclamation points and capital letters...). Is this because of experiences you have had yourselves, or because you do not believe in free ranging? Almost every other person in my town has chickens and they are all free range. Also, all of the birds in town end up in other people's yards. I wonder if it's just that the norms here are different than in other areas.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I want to re-state (again) that this thread wasn't intended to justify allowing the birds in the neighbor's yard. I was looking for advice...not validation. I received some great advice from all of you and am working to rectify the problem. I was going to keep them locked up (in the run) full time but since the neighbor's don't mind I can take a different course of action.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

I have gotten my turkeys to stay on my side with treats, it has worked very well.I keep dried mealworms in a can and when they get too far I shake it and they come running. I have also hearded them with 2 long sticks and they didnt like it but after while they stayed away from the long blue sticks laying at the border between our yards. I totally disagree with chickens and turkeys being stupid, they are extremely smart and have great memories. They have a complex pecking order and learn how to oout smart their human keepers very well.. They are not just dumb clucks pecking and scratching around a yard glassy eyed and robotic, spend some time with the birds and watch how they interact and you will see..