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

[jjthink]

Chiming in again to say I'd keep them. I would not tell this guy the birds will be harmed next time. He doesn't care about them and he may only get more mean, and it may signal to him that his behavior was somehow the norm (when he talked about shooting your dogs). Sounds like the birds really needed rescuing. The universe is making this easy:

1. He doesn't give a hoot about them;
2. You - nice person - want to help them; and
3. They delivered themselves.

JJ

 

[ChickenCop]

Keep the birds and be sure to send him an invoice for room/board & feeding cost for them at the end of the year...Maybe he will think twice for being such a JERK!

 

[halo]

I didnt read this whole thread, Im sorry, I will catch up and this may have already been said, but how would he even know they were his birds? Are they branded? Do they have Id collars on? Are they micro-chipped? Do you really think he could identify his own birds out of a group of other ones? Keep them, they're yours.

 

[Wildsky]

I think you should go over to him and be as sweet as you have ever been! Show him what it is to be a good neighbor by example!

 

[beekybuzzard]

Sorry but the question was "morally" should they be kept. Morally no. He's a jerk, yes but that does not change the issue. I'm not saying he is to be let off scott free, call the local animal control let them come to your house and take them and they can also charge him. Then if you want them you can go and get them for adoption, because odds are the jerk is not going to go and pay to get them back. Is that completely fair to you, maybe not but the question was of morals. Also it would be a step toward protecting yourself against him he sounds like trouble. I could talk to him myself if it was my situation or someone else around here ( not a big fella myself- at 6 ft around 220 but with my past youthful transgressions most people who know me will start no trouble around me) but that is not the best option for most with people as just pure mean as some have gotten now days. Not trying to be a thug, I have been saved and changed my life many years ago but I still will protect what is mine and those I care for. Good luck with this and please just call animal control an let them take care of it. Have a blessed day.

 

[jjthink]

So many wonderful people on BYC doing their best to offer sound advice. I feel lucky to have found this forum.
There may be differences of opinion but most everyone is coming from a place of sincere belief and I really appreciate that.

Protecting the neglected, hungry beings seems to me to be the most moral choice here. Using a different example, if this bozo had a dog and beat it, and it ran away seeking refuge elsewhere, and it was pretty darn clear the guy wasn't likely to evolve anytime soon, would it be the moral thing to do to return the dog to him? I say no, a thousand times no. When you take a being into your care it is your moral obligation to care for it well. If you care not about doing this, then you lose standing. Innocent beings should not have to pay the price for those amongst us who are uncaring, or worse. The innocent birds who fled this guy's place must come first. :aww

JJ
JJ

 

[justusnak]

OK, so here is what I did.
Drank a cup of coffee..and marched my big old 5 ft structure right over there. I was trying to look as strong as possible. ( didnt work) He come marching out....bibed overalls....long grey stained beard...dirty looking shirt...and said whatcha want? I said..Don, your Turkeys and Guineas have been "visiting" my yard..and have destroyed about a 5 ft section of my rock wall...and...chased my chicekns into the woods, and have been terroriseing my turkeys through the fence...and well, one of your hens flew through the top of my turkey pen, and is trapped in there. He started laughing..and said...looks like you got another turkey then. Whew!! THAT was easy...he said....I tell ya what...give me a few dozen eggs, and we will call it even. Wow......looks like I am now the mommy of a slate turkey hen. I didnt mention the guineas...I wanted to see how he reacted with the turkey. Guess he doesnt really care.

 

[nccountrygirl]

I'm glad that things went well for you today, what a joke of a human being, he should not be breathing the oxygen that someone else could use. Good Luck with your new birds.

 

[AussieSharon]

Glad it went well. I can't believe he said for you to give him a couple of dozen eggs to call it even. What about your damage? Enjoy the turkey and guineas. I am sure they will be MUCH happier at your place. Careful though, if word gets out they will all leave him and head your way.... you might want to start building an extra coop or two now! LOL

 

[Scrambled Egg]

Much better to peaceable resolve neighbor issues than to wage an all out war because most folks would act cowardly and do malicious things when you weren't around. Glad it worked out and congrats on the guineas too, lol!