My Neighbor shot at Me and My Chickens This Morning

[bobbi-j]

I want to comment on the idea of you carrying a gun. This is only a good idea if you are comfortable and competent. e

Absolutely! I am in no way advocating carrying a gun if someone has not had proper training.

Also, I am concerned with the benefits of obtaining a license to carry... since I could get into big trouble if I had to shoot at someone... who was just hanging around my coop. It's not the same as them trying to get into your house....

Also, there is a busy road between my place and my neighbors place. They are not adjacent neighbors. They are diagonal to us since our property crosses the road also.

You're right. Shooting at someone who was just hanging around your coop is a bad idea. BUT - carrying (if you're comfortable, competent and trained) for YOUR protection would not be unreasonable, in my opinion. I have very conflicting feelings myself. I would like to think I would be willing and able to protect myself or loved ones if it came down to it. I also value human life, and can't imagine the taking of one. Again - if it were him or me, or him or my husband, I'd like to think I could do it. I honestly don't know.

Maybe they won't look as they come across the road, and that would solve your problem.

I would go out there and show those teens what a real gun looks like.

I wouldn't. Not unless I had to use it. We don't know if the neighbor has his own "real" gun. He might take it as a challenge. Most of the time, I prefer not to poke a bear. Especially when I already know that it's dangerous.

A privacy fence is not going to do any good. They'll just use it as cover to shoot over it.

They'd have to stand on something to be able to shoot over a 6 or 8' privacy fence. And it might be enough to help mute the sound. I still vote for the fence. (Easy for me to say. I'm not the one paying for it!)

Honestly, there is no simple solution here. OP has done right in calling the police, and having them inform the neighbor that they are trying to sell some of their excess roosters. They are thinking of putting up a fence. Good plan in my opinion. They are doing the best to work around the crazy people. Hard to do, but glad they are willing. Good neighbors are a blessing, but in order to have good neighbors, one has to be a good neighbor. I think Then I Will is doing her best to be that good neighbor, and I commend her for it.

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

Have you actually looked into this, or are you just going by what "everybody knows?"

My state is what they call a "stand your ground" state; if I feel that I am seriously threatened with possible death or injury, I have the right to use whatever force I feel I need to use to defend myself, and that includes deadly force, whether I am at home or not. If someone is trying to break into my car when I am parked at the grocery store, I would be within my legal rights to shoot them. Of course, I might wind up having to convince a jury of my peers that my fear was justified . . .

But yes, it is better to try to avoid putting oneself into a situation like that in the first place, if possible.

Interestingly, though you need a license to own a firearm here, apparently it has to have gunpowder involved to be considered a firearm. Even high-powered air rifles are not considered firearms. . . . . maybe this kind of explains how a pair of known loose cannons like your neighbors could be shooting at you?

Pennsylvania has the Castle Doctrine as well as the Stand Your Ground law... She has every right to protect herself...regardless of location.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

That house we lived in where the squatters were pepper spraying my dogs behind the fence... You better believe I was armed EVERY single day! If a home invasion happens, and they do as you well know... I will use my little pistol to shoot my way back to the good stuff.

You don't need a license to open carry on your own property. You need a license to CONCEAL carry in public.

If there are no children in the house... my guns are loaded, but not chambered. There won't be any fumbling to get the right bullet paired with the right caliber gun. At most I would have them ready to go and in a locked cabinet with the key carried on person.

Agree a hunter safety or NRA person may be helpful to chat with. Local police are usually less then forthcoming with what is within your rights.

Your fence is a good idea... in my opinion and may even help protect your birds from other future predators. Heck add the trees and the fence if you are able. Better view for you and despite not being a guarantee of safety It's a lot better then an open view into your place.

Here in CA... we have the right to defend ourselves and our livestock if their lives are being threatened... on our own property.

Best to not get a "guard dog" or put up a beware of dog sign. That means you know you have a dangerous dog. My homeowners insurance will cancel us if we admit to any of our dogs having bitten someone (regardless of circumstance) or having killed any vermin (cats, rats, gophers, they don't care). It is then considered an aggressive dog. The no trespassing sign in and of itself will HELP to limit your liability. Also, "dog on premises" sign seems to have less liability than beware. Maybe if you have a "farm policy" that is different. But I don't farm I have a hobby and had to say EVERYTHING was for my own consumption in order to get them off my back. Admitting to sharing with friends and neighbors was an issue. Needless to say, we are working on getting another policy from a different company.

Thank you for the opportunity to think about how I would react... I sometimes see a neighbors dog on the loose, I don't wanna shoot. I love dogs. Planning to get a paint ball gun and leave a nice splat warning to their owners and a little sting to warn the dog away IF it's on my property. I have already confiscated a collar that was so tight took me 5 minutes to get it off the poor dog. Even sent offers with other neighbors that I would help supply and repair fencing IF needed. But if I see them approaching angrily because they figured out it was I who let their dog live instead of dispatching it, I will definitely be armed and call... The police or 911? Maybe the police if I don't see a weapon. I wonder which is more appropriate? Well I don't currently have the police department # programmed into speed dial, maybe I should! 911 is always easy to remember.

 

[Then I Will]

@Then I Will Holy crap! You're located just a mere 16 miles southwest of me. I'm familiar with your area...and I would consider it to be of a rural/agricultural type of locale...plenty of noisy farm animals. I can't believe the PSP didn't lock them up for discharging a firearm at another person...regardless of caliber. PA DOES HAVE the "Stand Your Ground" law that was added to the Castle Doctrine...I'd be seriously utilizing that right if I were in your situation.

Stand Your Ground:
A person in any lawful place outside his home “has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his ground and use force, including deadly force if . . . (he) believes it is immediately necessary to do so to protect himself against death, serious bodily injury, kidnapping, or sexual intercourse by force or threat.” (18 PA consolidated statutes 505(b)(2.3)).

Really?! Cool! Yes, it's definitely more Ag here than where I grew up, so I didn't expect such a fuss from people around here.
Alabama had the Castle law-- where even a patio was considered home invasion and you could shoot to kill. But I don't believe we had rights to shoot someone on property in 2010. I'm comforted to know that PA has this law.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Just remember, you have to be mentally ready to kill someone (if necessary) when carrying a gun. Just carrying one as a show of force without that readiness is foolish.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Absolutely! I am in no way advocating carrying a gun if someone has not had proper training.

You're right. Shooting at someone who was just hanging around your coop is a bad idea. BUT - carrying (if you're comfortable, competent and trained) for YOUR protection would not be unreasonable, in my opinion. I have very conflicting feelings myself. I would like to think I would be willing and able to protect myself or loved ones if it came down to it. I also value human life, and can't imagine the taking of one. Again - if it were him or me, or him or my husband, I'd like to think I could do it. I honestly don't know.

Maybe they won't look as they come across the road, and that would solve your problem.


I wouldn't. Not unless I had to use it. We don't know if the neighbor has his own "real" gun. He might take it as a challenge. Most of the time, I prefer not to poke a bear. Especially when I already know that it's dangerous.


They'd have to stand on something to be able to shoot over a 6 or 8' privacy fence. And it might be enough to help mute the sound. I still vote for the fence. (Easy for me to say. I'm not the one paying for it!)

Honestly, there is no simple solution here. OP has done right in calling the police, and having them inform the neighbor that they are trying to sell some of their excess roosters. They are thinking of putting up a fence. Good plan in my opinion. They are doing the best to work around the crazy people. Hard to do, but glad they are willing. Good neighbors are a blessing, but in order to have good neighbors, one has to be a good neighbor. I think Then I Will is doing her best to be that good neighbor, and I commend her for it.

Cannot like this post enough!

 

[jane s chickens]

So why weren't they arrested? Is shooting at someone with a pellet gun not 1st degree assault? It is here in Alabama. You should have pressed charges. Why are cops accompanying them?

 

[Bills vs Beaks]

I thought I was going a bit bonkers yesterday, when I came home from my in-laws house to find two of my roosters out of the pen with the pen door shut but unlatched.
I carefully caught them and put them up on their roosts, not thinking to check for injuries. Then I got a gut feeling, and upon investigation, found a fresh trail through the leaves leading down to my neighbor's property. A broken branch. Fresh. Wet. This same neighbor had cursed me out two mornings ago for no apparent reason- but I assumed, it was because he didn't like my roosters' crowing. The EE is pretty loud, but only when you're near the coop.
His house is over 100 yards away, and across a road, and separated by trees. And, the four roos spend a majority of the time crowing inside the coop which is fairly insulated and very dampening to their crows. It's so slight and faint within the walls of my own house, that I can't imagine it bothers anyone else inside their house- since I'm closest to the coop out of any neighbor.

But... we can't be paranoid and accuse our neighbors, husband told me last night.
This morning I go out to take care of my chickens, and I'm tidying up the coop for a customer --who is scheduled to come purchase one of the four Roos this afternoon-- when I begin hearing repeated pellet shots. So I step out and look around the backside of the coop to see the two men who live there pumping their pellet guns and shooting at my roosters.

As soon as they see me, the son begins walking forward, still pumping the gun, cursing at me about how I need to shut the chickens up and how they're waking him up every morning. I stand there with my hands out like, "What? Seriously? This is childish? You're going to shoot pellet guns at my roosters and if you injure them, then what? Get a real job and then you won't be around to hear any crowing and shoot at a stay at home mom!" I was in disbelief that someone was shooting at my birds!
They proceed to curse and fire pellets in my direction, so I retreat to my house without exchanging any words, and call my husband before trying 911. We had considered going down to talk to the neighbor and see what could be done to make them happy after the first cursing-out incident.

A while later, five troopers show up and... well, I'll spare you the details. Let's just say that sometimes the two legged varmints are your chickens' worst enemies.

yeeeeesh. thats crazy. and close by too, Im in NJ!
we have some family friends with horses, 6 acre property, horses are way at the back, and if anyone knows anything about horses, they are NOT that noisy. Neighbor kids snuck over one night and shot everything up with paintball guns (yes, the horses too). They called the cops, and the cops confiscated the paintball guns.
they still live next door, although the kids have left home by now, theres still a feud between them. Never apologized, even

So that to say, people are crazy. Get some high voltage electric fence....

 

[theoldchick]

Just remember, you have to be mentally ready to kill someone (if necessary) when carrying a gun. Just carrying one as a show of force without that readiness is foolish.

My Dad said the same thing. He taught me how to shoot rifles, starting out with a 22 rifle and graduating with his 30-06. He said if I ever found myself in the position that I needed to point my weapon at a human being, I better be ready to pull the trigger and I better be aiming true. He also pointed out to be very aware of where my bullet may go once it passes through the human body. Ain't nothing worse than killing Grandma on the front porch reading her Bible. He also taught me how to change the oil in my car and change a flat tire. That way my getaway car is ready if I ever need it. Seriously though, don't consider owning a weapon until you are trained to shoot a weapon.

 

[jnicholes]

Hello,

I am so sorry to hear that! That is just NOT RIGHT for someone to do that to you! Are you ok? Not hurt at all?

I am very sorry you had this experience.

Jared