Keeping the neighbor's chickens out of my yard

[TwoCrows]

I deleted many recent posts (no one is being singled out here, many different members) posts that have somewhat derailed this thread. I understand your frustration about cats, the smell of cat urine, dogs, pets, even life but let's keep this thread on track on how the OP can keep the neighbors chickens out of their yard please.

Thank you for your understanding,
BYC Staff

 

[Douglas Colman]

Ironically, I was over there twice this week after chasing the chickens out of my yard again. I explained to her that I should not have to keep on asking her to do this, and asked her how she was going to prevent it from happening over and over. I also explained again I should not have to come over here several times a year, every year. She stated she was going to need to put up a fence, but since being pregnant, it was not that easy for her. Well, she has not been pregnant in the previous years. She then proceeded to measure the length of my backyard that night. I have a feeling she will try and put one right on my lot line. Unfortunately it is going to have to go to the city or police.

Go to the dog shelter and get a companion for your existing dog. Choose an active one and if it doesn't come naturally then teach it to chase chickens.
Four wins. Companion for you and your frail dog, the chickens won't be back, you've saved a dogs life and you didn't have to pay for a fence.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Go to the dog shelter and get a companion for your existing dog. Choose an active one and if it doesn't come naturally then teach it to chase chickens.
Four wins. Companion for you and your frail dog, the chickens won't be back, you've saved a dogs life and you didn't have to pay for a fence.

You would need a fence for the dog to not go into the chickens yard. Plus not every doh wants a friend

 

[thepick4uchicks]

Please remember that you can call the city and the animal warden before the cops. Theoretically the cops should not be called for civil disputes which this is. They're there for criminal disputes, and calling the cops for a non criminal issue... Let's just say it's not a good idea. The city will probably inspect, fine, etc. That's what they're trained to do and legally are able to do. They can submit a notice of inspection and just deal with it. The cops? Who knows. In theory they need a warrant from a judge to enter the property. They're not trained to handle it. They can also simply be denied entry to the property.
Catching the birds on your property and sending them to a local shelter might also be an option. That way they would have to pay a fee to get them back, just like a loose dog.
My chickens have gotten out every once in a while but we have a 6' fence. One time a neighbor opened my fence and let them all out (we have padlocks now) and another neighbor called the cops. The cops came in and spent the whole day chasing four leghorns I'd had for 2 days all around the neighborhood, terrorizing them and spooking them permanently. It took 3 hours to find them all again, when the day before they were walking right up to me... They never were quite 'right' ever again and hated humans ever after. So call the city and the animal warden before you call the cops.

Otherwise... I do think this is a situation where contacting an authority might be appropriate. It's not the responsibility of a landowner to fence other peoples animals out, it's the animal keeper responsibility to keep them in unless there's an attractive nuisance.

Motion sprinklers, lights, etc might also work. But they might also be temporary.
Quote:
[/It's not the responsibility of a landowner to fence other peoples animals out, it's the animal keeper responsibility to keep them in unless there's an attractive nuisance.

It is not your responsibility to build and pay for a fence in your neighbors yard to keep their chickens in. It is your neighbors responsibility like it is yours to follow the laws as well and even more so because they own the birds. I would invest in one piece of equipment and that is a trail camera to record when they come into your property. I would keep the tapes and a record of your dogs vet bill from when he got so sick. Then I would sue them if he got sick a second time also. They would be warned the first time with this being done in formal writing and documenting it also in writing and a witness. If you don’t this mess will continue. This is the only way to correct this matter. Take it from me I really do know what I am talking about. I wish you luck and good documentation.

 

[MissJane]

Please call your municipality’s zoning office. They will handle the situation. Don’t feel bad about it, they deal with these situations all the time. It is their job. Your neighbor is willfully violating an ordinance. You didn’t cause the problem, they did.
As for the fence I’m not sure what your zoning regulations are. Some require fences to be so far from the property line others have no regulations. Some also limit the types of fence that can be put up.
I can understand your concern. I’m assuming you live in a residential area and not only don’t want other people’s pets in your yard, you don’t want to look at something unsightly to you while enjoying your property. Unfortunately sometimes that’s out of our control. But you can and should report the neighbor to the zoning official.
BTW I have chickens that free range. They are messy and gross. Poop everywhere. Destroy garden beds. I hate when they come near the house. But I free range eggs and enjoy watching them more than I dislike the problems they cause. I also had to shell out $4,000 to fence off the neighboring property because of course that’s where the chickens wanted to go all the time. The neighbors said they didn’t mind but I know how destructive chickens can be. I also work in my municipalities zoning office and it’s our job to deal with these issues for you. You are not the problem. The neighbor is!

 

[Douglas Colman]

True, but the OP will then need to install that fencing, and getting a dog is the most expensive possible solution here, and not instant either.
Maybe a good thing for the elderly current dog, or maybe not.
Mary

Is it common for homes in the USA to be unfenced?
Perhaps we should ask her if she has any dividing barrier between her place and the neighbors.
The chickens will quickly learn the dog nextdoor is to be avoided.
I can't imagine how a pound puppy that will do its job 24/7 for the price of a bowl of food and a pat on its head can be the most expensive option.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Is it common for homes in the USA to be unfenced?
Perhaps we should ask her if she has any dividing barrier between her place and the neighbors.
The chickens will quickly learn the dog nextdoor is to be avoided.
I can't imagine how a pound puppy that will do its job 24/7 for the price of a bowl of food and a pat on its head can be the most expensive option.

Yeah, the majority of homes in the US are unfenced in my experience. Fences are expensive to build.

 

[Douglas Colman]

Yeah, the majority of homes in the US are unfenced in my experience. Fences are expensive to build.

I'm admitting that a wooden fence 6feet high to keep the neighbors chooks OUT would be a very expensive option but she only needs a low fence maybe 3feet high to keep her new dog IN. Short posts (called Star pickets in Australia) with 3 horizontal wires to establish a boundary for the dog will be sufficient.

 

[ShannonR]

I'm admitting that a wooden fence 6feet high to keep the neighbors chooks OUT would be a very expensive option but she only needs a low fence maybe 3feet high to keep her new dog IN. Short posts (called Star pickets in Australia) with 3 horizontal wires to establish a boundary for the dog will be sufficient.

Yeah, no. That won't work.

 

[Douglas Colman]

Yeah, no. That won't work.

Why?