I have a question...of morals. LONG.

[back2basics]

I agree too with giving the guy a warning, but also you may want to get it on a record what is happening. All you would have to do is call your local police, explain the situation, and let them know what you are going to do. Wouldnt the way he treats his animals be considered abuse and/or public nuisance (if the animals may cause an accident?)

 

[justusnak]

I know he has no idea exactly how many birds he has over there. Literally, there are hundreds. These are the "lucky few"( probably 50 or 60) that get over the fence, 4 ft high, and free range. I only have the one little turkey hen and 3 guineas. The turkey hen, I have NO IDEA how I would get her out of the pen. She is not used to human contact. I Did honestly try to get her out, but she is fast, and its so muddy out there right now. I cant leave the top off the pen, for fear of MINE flying out. The 3 Guineas..I could easily just let go...but...they will be back, like always! All of the neighbors complain about his birds running all over the place, but no one will confront him. I have noticed less and less out there....maybe someone is beating me to the punch, and enjoying turkey dinners?

 

[quadcam79]

Quote:
Well, put. This is what I would do too.

Just to, ummm...keep your side of the street clean--no pun intended.

Peace-

Pedro

+2

 

[ivan3]

I'm with hencackle (camcorder and/or security cam footage scorch any argumentative BS immediately). I'd do this regardless of the eventual disposition of the wandering free rangers.

Considering your neighbor's bent-of-mind, i.e., his idea of a `welcome wagon' (gonna shoot `em yep I is). Probably best to `shut-up' and just solve the problem in a tactfully discrete manner (doesn't matter if it's SSS or Find `em, Free `em, Feed `em - - eat `em???).

Around here there is a long history of disputation of the bloody sort (from border wars to retribution meted out for billy goats eating laundry...) SO all `lost' dogs must have been hit by cars, terribly sad (though I'd really like to retire the owner of said animal).

This is a local story I try to remember when I'd rather push back than smile (on topic - marauding turkeys):

http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2007/sep/20070922news006.asp

Just scroll down to the last third of the article to the line that reads:

"The farm where the Ryland house sits was a crime scene in the early 20th century."

Good Luck!

 

[hooligan]

Keep the poultry or rehome it. They obviously need a new home, right now they are choosing yours.
Shoot owner

 

[Buster]

I'd just keep them. How is he going to prove that they are his? He won't miss them if he has hundreds running loose and he's not taking care of them anyway. If you want to keep them, keep them and if you want to shoot them, shoot them. Just don't tell the neighbor. I had a crazy neighbor like that who said he'd shoot my dogs, except instead of birds, he had cows that broke out and invaded my place. He shot other people's dogs and never would own up to it. I'd do what you want and not tell him. It's not like he'd tell you if he put a bullet in your dog.

 

[jeaucamom]

My first concern is for you. Will he prosecute? Will you wind up in trouble and being fined or losing your birds? Do you already have guines and turkeys, a flock they could fit in with? Is your yard fenced so he will never see in?

My second concern is for the birds. They obviously need food and to be cared for and not given back to this crazy person.

So given the fact that he could never know they were his, I would put colored leg bands on all of them as if they have always been there and look at this as a free increase in flock.

 

[mom'sfolly]

I think you just got some free birds. This man doesn't care enough to feed his birds in the winter, and probably just assumes some will disappear. I think you can safely keep or eat these birds, just like jeaucamom said, just integrate them into your flock. Your neighbors will thank you.

 

[rooster-red]

Quote:
After that statement, no doubt in my mind, KEEP THEM!

He doesn't care about them, and wouldn't know how they went missing if he did notice, could have been hit by a car, eaten by a preditor, etc...

If he cared about them, then I would give him a warning, but he has stated he doesn't care.

 

[tazcat70]

Quote:
This sounds like a good idea. I was going to say just keep them and if he comes looking for them...but since you say he won't...well I think this was his birds would just get shot and your flock would grow.

Tonya