Neighbor Chicken Hater

[Chics4alex]

I have had a 7 chic flock free-rangin in my small semi-rural neighborhood on the outskirts of Austin, Tx for about 6 months. The birds have a daily path of bug eating and hanging out at 3 of my neighbors yards. All of the neighbors love the chickens and the eggs that I provide eggs to them. Well, we now have a new neighbor that just moved in and she is a chicken hater. She told me to keep the chickens out of her yard because they crap on her deck and it stains the wood.
I don't know any way to keep the birds out of her yard other than cooping all the time or building a fenced area. Either way, my chickens will not like it as they love to roam free during the day.
Any suggestions?

 

[mattb#00]

Build a fence and be a responsible owner of animals.

 

[mhwc56]

it's a sad situation but you need to be a good neighbor and fence in your birds. It'd be terrible if you didn't and something bad happened to them...on the other hand, maybe, if you respect the new neighbor's wishes they will come around and have a change of heart after a bit of time and adjustment to the new ( for them )neighborhood. ( a case of "you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar" ...)

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

While there are more "nice" ways of saying what matt said before me here, the general point is that as these are your pets, they are your responsibility to keep contained. You wouldn't want a neighbor's dog to be pooping on your deck or porch, would you? Keep them contained. I'm sorry!

 

[schellie69]

build a fence. I am sorry but your neighbor has the right to say what happens in her yard. It might not be that she hates chickens that she does not want to clean up the poop from your pets. I would respect her wishes. It could lead to more trouble for you if you don't

 

[Egghead_Jr]

You can still allow some free ranging time for a few hours in evenings. The chickens wont roam so far in the last few hours of day, be too busy grabing bugs and such from your lawn. I did this last year. As the vegitation wained and cold set in to make insects scarce they stayed in the run more and more. Went from 11 am mid summer to last few hours late fall to keep them off one neighbors yard. We're putting in a privacy fence this summer.

 

[teach1rusl]

I'd fence off a large area for your birds. There's really no other way. There are MANY folks out there (many here on BYC who own chickens themselves) who don't want chicken droppings on their porches or decks, and who don't want their flower beds dug up. Chicken poo will certainly stain wood, as my dear birdies poo on my porch frequently

. Really you should consider yourself lucky that the neighbors you've had up until now have been so tolerant of your chick's visits...

 

[dsqard]

Not to seem like you are getting ganged up on but I agree with the other posters. Please find a way to keep your birds from going on to your neighbor's property. I agree with BigDaddy'sGurl, if the neighbor's dog was coming on to your property and either relieving itself on your yard or harrassing your birds you wouldn't like it. If I didn't own chickens I would be upset by them pooping on my patio or digging up my yard or garden. Can you figure out a way to keep them from going on that neighbor's yard? Is there a way for you to fence that side so your girls only go free ranging on the neighbor's yards that don't mind seeing them?

 

[annep]

Here in Colorado, we are a "fence them out" state...If someone does not want them in their yard, it's their responsibility to put up their own fence. Might want to look into that...Same for cattle, or any livestock.

 

[Katy]

mattb#00 :

Build a fence and be a responsible owner of animals.

X2

I wouldn't like it either if someone elses chickens were roaming my yard and scratching up my gardens and pooping everywhere.....and I'm a big chicken lover.​