Need some advice :)

[Modernchickenmamaof6]

Hi chicken parents! ,
so I’m new to chicken keeping. I will be getting my new baby chicks in the spring ( so excited ) my husband built me this beautiful coop and run This summer ! As I plan to not free range( but occasionally let them out by creating a temp fence around my gardens )..But my issue is the neighbour behind me just recently got chickens too ! We live in a tiny town and our houses are close to each other and they have chosen to let their chickens free range. they go all over my yard sometimes - I don’t have a problem with them free ranging at all! But I just want to make sure that their chickens don’t bother mine/stress them out - I know chicken Diseases can spread quickly as-well so I really don’t what them to interact at all! I plan on putting up mesh deer fencing inbetween our yards. I have disgust it with my neighbour as well So we can make this work for the both of us ! but my concern is , will their chickens still stress my chickens out, because they can still see each other at the fence lines ? Or would they just eventually get use to each other ?... any advice would be greatly appreciated - note: coop isn’t. Completely don’t yet lots to do on the inside still but I love it so
greatful for this lovely coop !

 

[21hens-incharge]

Okay , Hopfully they all stay healthy then thanks for the info

The risk is rather low as long as no one goes getting grown or half grown birds from auctions, swaps or does the feeling sorry for the poor sickly birds in some ad they respond to.

 

[3KillerBs]

What a lovely coop!

Disease, stress, or not, your neighbor ought to keep his chickens on his own property as a matter of basic respect for boundaries and property rights.

 

[Modernchickenmamaof6]

Thanks for the info the neighbour did mention where he got his and they are reputable hatchery and so is mine so Hopfully They all liv happy healthy lives

 

[Chickstarrs]

If the neighbour birds are free ranging around your run on your property, then your chicks may get jealous that they can't get out too. When a couple of mine are out and the ones left inside the run are not happy. If you get the fence between the properties, then your chickens will get used to them being "over there" in their own space.

However, as previously mentioned, disease transmission doesn't recognize fences. There are several infections that travel on the wind or can be transported between the properties on boots, or wild critters travelling back and forth. Meet with your neighbour and make sure you are both getting healthy birds from reputable places.

Good luck. Your coop is awesome! And welcome to BYC!

 

[SegiDream]

There's a house up the road from us that free ranges occasionally. They're not close so they never cross our property but my rooster hears them crow and that inspires him to crow too. I think they'll probably respond to seeing other chickens at first especially if they can get close and if you both have roosters. But I would expect them to get used to each other.

Welcome BTW! Pretty coop, you're gonna have some happy chickens!

 

[Modernchickenmamaof6]

Here’s updated photo of the coop - and my new babies - 5 weeks old today -
I plan on using the kid sand box as a dust bath area and adding another roost spot above the logs - adding grazing boxes too and safe herbs and flowers around the coop that they can peak and eat -

 

[21hens-incharge]

I think The birds would get used to the birds across the fence. As to disease transmission..... Well that is certainly a possibility with them so close and no a privacy fence would not stop it.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Thanks for the info the neighbour did mention where he got his and they are reputable hatchery and so is mine so Hopfully They all liv happy healthy lives

Going with a hatchery is THE safest way to get healthy (disease free) birds on my opinion.

 

[3KillerBs]

I plan on using the kid sand box as a dust bath area

Honestly, I *personally* think that putting a dust bath into a run that has a dirt floor is a waste of space and effort.

They will happily dig dust bath holes anywhere and everywhere.

Mine move their dusting holes all over the place according to their preference of the moment.