Here we go again...a neighbor's rant

[roosterhavoc]

I tired of that the first year the problem started. I was up almost every morning at the crack of dawn for 2 months trying to shoot the foxes as they were killing his flock (on my property). Its not that I don't want to - I shouldn't have to, as my flock is contained. Besides, more will just take its place.

I understand he’s causing the problem. There’s really no quick fixes. Do you let your chickens out to range at all? If you do I would at least try to trap the foxes. Waiting them out can work but it can take a ridiculously long time.
I’ve shot quite a few but trapped many more.
I would build a cheap little pen in your yard. Catch his chickens and keep them. Lol they’re yours now.
When he sees his chickens in your yard penned up he might change his mind. He will at least realize “hey I paid for those chickens and she took them.” Lol

 

[Helloworld]

Or, take advantage of his stupidity, collect the chickens, sell them and pay for your feed! You have warned and warned. Surely there is a flea market or local auction?
Lol if he is at the auction, just sell them back to him! “Im sorry, no not your chickens, I found these in my yard” would be my reply!

I know game chickens have to be penned or they are like guineas to me. Running everywhere, waiting for the red light on Main St, sitting on the bus stop bench waiting for the bus. Lol Around my area, people don’t have the resources to properly contain them. And some don’t care. Chickens everywhere!

 

[snow5164]

This is so unfortunate, can you buy him out? His land is almost completely surrounded by your , offer him cash to leave....

And I agree catch his hens and sell them or give them away , it could be fun

 

[Trish1974]

Build another coop and run, and take his chickens when they are on your property.

I would build a cheap little pen in your yard. Catch his chickens and keep them. Lol they’re yours now.

Or, take advantage of his stupidity, collect the chickens, sell them and pay for your feed!

And I agree catch his hens and sell them or give them away , it could be fun

Well.... I do have 2 of his chickens from his third flock!

They were RESCUED, not STOLEN! One was being chased by a fox. I opened my front door, this poor little EE hen flew up on the porch straight at me, and the fox that was hot on her tail made a quick exit stage left. She sat on my porch swing, clearly in shock, so I picked her up and put her in a dog crate. She would have been fox food if I had just let her go. Two weeks later, I saw her sister getting chased by a fox in my security camera, and by the time I got my gun and ran out the back door he had already grabbed her and was carrying her off towards the woods. I shot and he dropped her, but quickly picked her up again, so I shot again and he dropped her. As the hen started to run off, the fox turned to go after her again so I just started shooting rapid fire and he took off in the opposite direction. I found her huddled up against a tree and scooped her up. Half her tail was gone and she was stripped down her back with two teeth marks, so I brought her in and treated her wounds. The way I see it I saved them; I EARNED them!

 

[Trish1974]

Do you let your chickens out to range at all? If you do I would at least try to trap the foxes.

I do let them out whenever I can be out there with them. As you can see I live in predator hell. Certain times of the year I'm out there with a .22 slung across my back like I'm watching over the chain gang. I'm glad people can't see me from the road! I do not know anything about trapping, but I will ask the kid who hunts my property if its something he could do.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Well.... I do have 2 of his chickens from his third flock!

They were RESCUED, not STOLEN! One was being chased by a fox. I opened my front door, this poor little EE hen flew up on the porch straight at me, and the fox that was hot on her tail made a quick exit stage left. She sat on my porch swing, clearly in shock, so I picked her up and put her in a dog crate. She would have been fox food if I had just let her go. Two weeks later, I saw her sister getting chased by a fox in my security camera, and by the time I got my gun and ran out the back door he had already grabbed her and was carrying her off towards the woods. I shot and he dropped her, but quickly picked her up again, so I shot again and he dropped her. As the hen started to run off, the fox turned to go after her again so I just started shooting rapid fire and he took off in the opposite direction. I found her huddled up against a tree and scooped her up. Half her tail was gone and she was stripped down her back with two teeth marks, so I brought her in and treated her wounds. The way I see it I saved them; I EARNED them!

I’m so happy that you saved those two hens. It seems like if you don’t intervene then this new flock of his will be fox food too
I think you should catch as many of the stray chickens as you can and sell them.

 

[Trish1974]

That’s awesome! Are you getting your breeding stock from Ann Charles? I am going to get Araucanas from her when I have my own property.

That was the plan, but Ann only sells her chicks as mixed lots. I want to be variety specific. I found Rachel Bayes at Willow Acres in Liberty, OH. She sells by the variety and all ages. Plus its within driving distance, granted a LONG drive, but I wouldn't have to worry about the post office killing my birds!
Ann's stock is simply amazing though! She would be my first pick. I do believe some of Rachel's stock came from her.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

That was the plan, but Ann only sells her chicks as mixed lots. I want to be variety specific. I found Rachel Bayes at Willow Acres in Liberty, OH. She sells by the variety and all ages. Plus its within driving distance, granted a LONG drive, but I wouldn't have to worry about the post office killing my birds!
Ann's stock is simply amazing though! She would be my first pick. I do believe some of Rachel's stock came from her.

When I’m ready I plan to email Ann Charles and ask her if I can buy specific colors directly from her.

 

[roosterhavoc]

I do let them out whenever I can be out there with them. As you can see I live in predator hell. Certain times of the year I'm out there with a .22 slung across my back like I'm watching over the chain gang. I'm glad people can't see me from the road! I do not know anything about trapping, but I will ask the kid who hunts my property if its something he could do.

If he’s hunting deer on your property I would definitely ask him to trap the foxes. If he’s old enough to hunt himself he’s old enough to learn to trap. I would make it a prerequisite to hunt your land. It’s actually pretty common.

 

[Trish1974]

Well...
I made it through the day without seeing the neighbor's chickens. Whenever I heard his rooster crow it always came from the same area, as if he was contained. Hopefully he heard me shooing his rooster off my property. I was yelling and cussing like a drunken sailor while doing it in hopes the neighbor was outside and could hear me. Maybe he did?