My neighbor lets her chickens free range my yard constantly?

[gtaus]

Our street is fairly developed, but this area was agricultural previously

I watched a YouTube channel where the family lost their "homestead" rights because the town grew up around them and they were zoned out of keeping animals. It was a real heartbreak for them because they moved to that location to raise animals, but after a number of years, they found themselves inside the city limits and living with neighbors who did not want farm animals next door.

I know even in the small town by where I live, the town has expanded out and devoured farm land in the process. A number of small businesses were also zoned out as housing developed around them.

I have a relative who lives in literally the last house within the official city limits. They cannot park a car in their driveway that does not have current tags. If your car has current tags, you better move it every 3 days. Their next door neighbor, on the same block, is considered outside city limits and they can have chickens or whatever animal they want running around their lot. They could have 10 rusting old cars broken down and not running sitting on their front lawn and nobody could do anything. I suspect the next time the city draws its lines, those houses will be included in the city limits and life will change for them.

I live 10 miles out of town, so I have nothing to worry about in my lifetime. But those on the edge of town could be sucked up into the town boundaries at any time.

 

[RiverOtter]

Folks, you can't divorce your neighbors..

Step one is TALK to them. I know you don't want to. Grow up and use your words guys. Re-read the first sentence, spring 5 bucks for a coffee cake, walk over and talk to them. Nicely. You can always be a jerk later, there's no need to start out by being nasty and confrontational - as another poster pointed out, you have no idea what's going on, so don't assume the worst. Sometimes people have problems, sometimes it's just Hanlon's razor*. If being a good neighbor and friend doesn't work, you can always be a jerk later, but if you start out like that, it will never get better.

What's the worst that will happen if you talk to them? They hate you and nothing changes. Right now, you hate them and nothing changes, so there's really nothing to lose, is there? And it takes a friend to make a friend, talk to them and you may end up with one, which is always better than playing out Hatfields and McCoys.

And if you're really too chicken to talk to them, try motion activated sprinklers.

*Hanlon's razor; Do not attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by ignorance.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Different places have different laws. That may be the law where you live, but I recommend anyone else check their own local laws before doing that. Many US states do have similar laws, but I don't know about all of them, and I certainly do not know about other countries. It's safest to check first.

^^^ this. And the term you want to search for in many statutes is "at large". It's a common term of Art.

 

[allenw]

Your neighbor is the bad apple that can spoil things for everyone. Sounds like several people including the op are outside the line also, so no one wants to raise a stink.

 

[gtaus]

Also, is her rooster human aggressive? What happens if he ends up spurring a small child?

I would be concerned about that, too. Years ago, a relative's little boy was mauled in the face by 2 doberman pinschers that were running free in their neighborhood. They were very friendly dogs until a female dog in the neighborhood went into heat, and then the male dogs became hyper aggressive. The little boy was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. He was lucky he did not get killed, but he had to have multiple plastic surgeries to reconstruct the damage and still has scars to this day. The dogs had to be put down, of course. Everyone in the neighborhood was upset and they had a big lockdown on their dog policy.

I could easily see if a rooster hurt a small child that the city might pass ordinances to ban all chickens. Everyone loses. I'm just glad I live out in the country and don't have those issues to deal with.

 

[DebinCR]

I moved into my house a year ago, and this neighbor (we'll call her "Jane") moved in just months after, next door. I live on an acre and a half, and all of my chickens are secured in their run with wire of the top. I do this to protect them from predators, and from just wandering.

Jane got her chickens in April. She has no top over her run, and only maybe 4 foot high livestock fence. She also got about 6 times the amount of chickens allowed for their property (I don't care, but I don't think anyone is fooled when 25 chickens walk down the street, that a quantity like that is forbidden). For awhile everything was fine, but starting last summer, her chickens took up the habit of every single day, they come to my front yard, or go across the street, into the yards of the neighbors who don't have chickens.

Jane's coop is obscured behind her house, while mine is visible from the road (my yard doesn't have many trees), so my concern is always that the chicken-less neighbors will think these are my chickens doing this, and call the county on me.

She then got a rooster. The rooster comes down to my front yard, and the neighbors front yards, and crows in my yard and theirs. I work from home, and give a lot of presentations to clients for my job. Having her rooster crowing in front of my window 10 feet away doesn't work. Additionally, I have my own rooster, contained in my chicken run at the back of my property--I worry that when neighbors hear/see Jane's chickens cruising by and her rooster crowing and annoying them on their windowsill, they will think it's mine, and call the county on us both. You aren't really allowed to have roosters, it's a "don't ask, don't tell" kind of thing. I also take all my neighbors adjacent me dozens of eggs every year, for tolerating my rooster. Jane does nothing for them. And I'm worried the day the call comes, the county will come and make us BOTH get rid of all our extra chickens and rooster.

Last month, her chickens ran out in front of a neighbor's car, causing her to swerve and strike the mailboxes, and the neighbor had to buy a new mailbox over it. The chickens current hobby is spending about 1/3 of their day each day in the mulch that landscapes the exterior of my house--they have completely destroyed it, and ripped down to the liner, and now I need to go buy more mulch and fix this. Additionally, her chickens have become a good food source for predators--there are now extra foxes, hawks and raccoons that hang out around the premises because of her valiant predator feeding efforts. When chickens disappear, she just buys more.

Jane texts me chicken questions, and we previously had good rapport, but I'm so angry over this I don't speak to her anymore. Additionally, they just bought land and are building a farm, so a year from now, they can move away and this won't be an issue. I'll still be here, and if my chickens have been taken away by the county, I'll still have problems.

Any suggestions? I'm very confident just telling her to keep her chickens contained will not be well received at all.

I have trained my chickens to stay away from certain areas by using a hose on them. They run away instantly & stay away for weeks. Then I might have to remind them again if I'm late with a meal for some reason, but it works very well as a chicken deterrent.

 

[Pgnelson45]

I moved into my house a year ago, and this neighbor (we'll call her "Jane") moved in just months after, next door. I live on an acre and a half, and all of my chickens are secured in their run with wire of the top. I do this to protect them from predators, and from just wandering.

Jane got her chickens in April. She has no top over her run, and only maybe 4 foot high livestock fence. She also got about 6 times the amount of chickens allowed for their property (I don't care, but I don't think anyone is fooled when 25 chickens walk down the street, that a quantity like that is forbidden). For awhile everything was fine, but starting last summer, her chickens took up the habit of every single day, they come to my front yard, or go across the street, into the yards of the neighbors who don't have chickens.

Jane's coop is obscured behind her house, while mine is visible from the road (my yard doesn't have many trees), so my concern is always that the chicken-less neighbors will think these are my chickens doing this, and call the county on me.

She then got a rooster. The rooster comes down to my front yard, and the neighbors front yards, and crows in my yard and theirs. I work from home, and give a lot of presentations to clients for my job. Having her rooster crowing in front of my window 10 feet away doesn't work. Additionally, I have my own rooster, contained in my chicken run at the back of my property--I worry that when neighbors hear/see Jane's chickens cruising by and her rooster crowing and annoying them on their windowsill, they will think it's mine, and call the county on us both. You aren't really allowed to have roosters, it's a "don't ask, don't tell" kind of thing. I also take all my neighbors adjacent me dozens of eggs every year, for tolerating my rooster. Jane does nothing for them. And I'm worried the day the call comes, the county will come and make us BOTH get rid of all our extra chickens and rooster.

Last month, her chickens ran out in front of a neighbor's car, causing her to swerve and strike the mailboxes, and the neighbor had to buy a new mailbox over it. The chickens current hobby is spending about 1/3 of their day each day in the mulch that landscapes the exterior of my house--they have completely destroyed it, and ripped down to the liner, and now I need to go buy more mulch and fix this. Additionally, her chickens have become a good food source for predators--there are now extra foxes, hawks and raccoons that hang out around the premises because of her valiant predator feeding efforts. When chickens disappear, she just buys more.

Jane texts me chicken questions, and we previously had good rapport, but I'm so angry over this I don't speak to her anymore. Additionally, they just bought land and are building a farm, so a year from now, they can move away and this won't be an issue. I'll still be here, and if my chickens have been taken away by the county, I'll still have problems.

Any suggestions? I'm very confident just telling her to keep her chickens contained will not be well received at all.

At the very least you need to tell all your neighbors that the chickens and rooster they are seeing are not yours but hers. If Jane won’t control her flock and you don’t talk to her about it then you probably have to live with it until she moves.

 

[Double Yolked]

I moved into my house a year ago, and this neighbor (we'll call her "Jane") moved in just months after, next door. I live on an acre and a half, and all of my chickens are secured in their run with wire of the top. I do this to protect them from predators, and from just wandering.


Jane's coop is obscured behind her house, while mine is visible from the road (my yard doesn't have many trees), so my concern is always that the chicken-less neighbors will think these are my chickens doing this, and call the county on me.


Any suggestions? I'm very confident just telling her to keep her chickens contained will not be well received at all.

Some folks are bad neighbors, no matter what and there is little you can say to them that will sink in unfortunately.
Is your yard fenced? A small dog, especially something like a Yorkie or other varmint chasing breed, in a fenced yard will gleefully keep your property free-ranging chicken free.

I own both chickens and Yorkie. Chickens have learned to stay the heck out of my "no chickens allowed" fenced side yard since Dee Dee started patrolling it.

Rescue a Yorkie mix, (they make great companions and are fun, smart, loyal, little dogs that don't shed) teach it chicken patrolling and the neighbor will not be able to complain as long as your dog is kept inside your fenced yard.

I live in the country and even if someone complained to the county here they would just shrug and say "Not against the law". So I can't advise on that one.

 

[Iluveggers]

I think you should definitely talk to her about the problem and be honest.
1. Her chickens are destroying your landscaping
2. Her chickens caused an accident
3. You are worried that someone will complain about her chickens and roo and then you will have to get rid of yours.

I also think you should make sure your surrounding neighbors know that the chickens wandering are not yours so you don’t get blamed.

If she seems indifferent, you can report her, or catch her chickens and turn them in to animal control.

I would think about temporarily getting your flock into the town compliance. I would be worried someone will complain about her and realize you have too many and a roo. If the town gets complaints they may change their chicken laws. She’s moving, so it will only hurt you in the long run.

If you really don’t want to talk to her, I would catch her chickens and give them to animal control so at least no one can call and complain and have them inspect you in the process.

What a terrible situation. I’m so sorry.

 

[Doctor L]

I moved into my house a year ago, and this neighbor (we'll call her "Jane") moved in just months after, next door. I live on an acre and a half, and all of my chickens are secured in their run with wire of the top. I do this to protect them from predators, and from just wandering.

Jane got her chickens in April. She has no top over her run, and only maybe 4 foot high livestock fence. She also got about 6 times the amount of chickens allowed for their property (I don't care, but I don't think anyone is fooled when 25 chickens walk down the street, that a quantity like that is forbidden). For awhile everything was fine, but starting last summer, her chickens took up the habit of every single day, they come to my front yard, or go across the street, into the yards of the neighbors who don't have chickens.

Jane's coop is obscured behind her house, while mine is visible from the road (my yard doesn't have many trees), so my concern is always that the chicken-less neighbors will think these are my chickens doing this, and call the county on me.

She then got a rooster. The rooster comes down to my front yard, and the neighbors front yards, and crows in my yard and theirs. I work from home, and give a lot of presentations to clients for my job. Having her rooster crowing in front of my window 10 feet away doesn't work. Additionally, I have my own rooster, contained in my chicken run at the back of my property--I worry that when neighbors hear/see Jane's chickens cruising by and her rooster crowing and annoying them on their windowsill, they will think it's mine, and call the county on us both. You aren't really allowed to have roosters, it's a "don't ask, don't tell" kind of thing. I also take all my neighbors adjacent me dozens of eggs every year, for tolerating my rooster. Jane does nothing for them. And I'm worried the day the call comes, the county will come and make us BOTH get rid of all our extra chickens and rooster.

Last month, her chickens ran out in front of a neighbor's car, causing her to swerve and strike the mailboxes, and the neighbor had to buy a new mailbox over it. The chickens current hobby is spending about 1/3 of their day each day in the mulch that landscapes the exterior of my house--they have completely destroyed it, and ripped down to the liner, and now I need to go buy more mulch and fix this. Additionally, her chickens have become a good food source for predators--there are now extra foxes, hawks and raccoons that hang out around the premises because of her valiant predator feeding efforts. When chickens disappear, she just buys more.

Jane texts me chicken questions, and we previously had good rapport, but I'm so angry over this I don't speak to her anymore. Additionally, they just bought land and are building a farm, so a year from now, they can move away and this won't be an issue. I'll still be here, and if my chickens have been taken away by the county, I'll still have problems.

Any suggestions? I'm very confident just telling her to keep her chickens contained will not be well received at all.

Maybe I’m just getting old, but when I was young, we all knew our neighbors and got along, like extended family, without invading anyone’s privacy… Maybe you can get to know your neighbors better. Knock on some doors and say, “Hello”. Then they’ll know who’s chickens are who’s, and then they’ll be no need to get the county government involved. Maybe organize a neighborhood BBQ, or host a garage sale or something…