My poor Lamp

[hotmessJess]

Do you own your home?
Some fencing might be in order....along with a secure coop and run for the birds....and a report to the local police.
I'd be keeping a written record of all incidents and photos/video if you can get them.

We recently put a fence up, but the kids disregard it, as they do all other neighbors' property. I don't want to be the one that calls the cops on suspicion, but if I see them with my own eyes, I will.

I guess I could pad lock the coop, but I'd feel awful keeping my chickens in a small run. They range my near acre of property, usually without incident. And I guess I'd have to lock the run, too and hope they're parents didn't give them wire cutters to play with (we had a nearly serious incident with them and my 6 year old, last year, when they were playing with garden sheers, unattended).

 

[hotmessJess]

I'd get a cheap hunting/deer camera. Just in case this issue ends up in court, that way you have proof of the neighbors dog and/or kids harming your birds.

I do think a camera is in order!

By the by, there is a fence between my yard and theirs that's been there since before we bought the house, but their kids climb all over it, and they don't keep their dog in the physical fence they have. She can squeeze through our gate where there's a small, 8" gap. She's dug under it, too, when we've blocked it.

 

[aart]

You should be able to report the dogs and kids trespass anonymously.
At least report it without making a complaint.

 

[hotmessJess]

You should be able to report the dogs and kids trespass anonymously.
At least report it without making a complaint.

We have a really great no-kill shelter here, where I plan to take the dog if she comes into my property again. She's not a bad dog, but she's going to get hit by a car or worse if they don't keep her in the fence. I think that'd be the best thing to do for her.

As for the kids, if I catch them in my yard creating, I'm going to make a report.

 

[aart]

Quote: When you report, report all the incidences.
They may well already know as others may also have complained.

 

[hotmessJess]

When you report, report all the incidences.
They may well already know as others may also have complained.

Will do! Nothing else has happened in our neighborhood (other than one neighbor complained to the police about the dog barking several months ago), but they're renters, so who knows about before they moved here!

 

[Bigwig]

Keep us posted!! Good luck!

 

[hotmessJess]

Okay. So padlocked doors on the coop and run are happening Sunday (weather permitting). We went out for lunch and milk around 1:30. Just pulled in the driveway and all of my chickens were in the front, though more than half were confined to the back when we left. The one neighbor child was leaning on the fence where they scratching and took off running when we pulled up!

I generally abhor violence, but I've given my son (who is of the same age) permission to use any force he deems necessary to protect his pets and property (they're actually his chickens). He's a gentle giant, but is very protective of his animals, so for her sake, I hope she backs off.

 

[aart]

Okay. So padlocked doors on the coop and run are happening Sunday (weather permitting). We went out for lunch and milk around 1:30. Just pulled in the driveway and all of my chickens were in the front, though more than half were confined to the back when we left. The one neighbor child was leaning on the fence where they scratching and took off running when we pulled up!

I generally abhor violence, but I've given my son (who is of the same age) permission to use any force he deems necessary to protect his pets and property (they're actually his chickens). He's a gentle giant, but is very protective of his animals, so for her sake, I hope she backs off.

How old are these kids?
This is really an adult matter.

 

[hotmessJess]

How old are these kids?
This is really an adult matter.

They're young. But their parents are spacey and the kids roam. I mean, the kids will be in the yard from sun up to sun down (and beyond), screaming and carrying on, hopping fences and and terrorizing the wildlife (they've caught and killed SO MANY birds)!

My son had it out with their oldest before (they're 11), because she was throwing rocks at one of the roosters, and the 5/6ish yr old was trying to sit on 8 week old chicks, for some reason. I told them then that they weren't welcome to come over anymore. I LOVE having the neighborhood children over to see the chickens, to play or visit, but there's something off about these kids. The mother knows about the killing of birds, and bees, and has even watched this kid joyfully cut the heads of of baby mice to hold out on tweezers to tease a pet snake (<-- true story). None of the other kids in the neighborhood will play with them. I honestly don't even know how to deal with the parents about this, because they're pretty blase about what the kids are up to.

I know they're moving. The owners of the house are our friends and really don't want them there anymore. So I'm trying to be patient. But I seriously can't let these kids do anymore damage to my chickens...