Neighboring flocks.

[HomstdngHsewivs]

I have a flock of 17 hens, all which have been properly quarantined and introduced into the original flock of 5. The 12 I acquired this past spring are from a breeder and have not introduced any diseases or pests into the existing flock. It's been a year since I began raising chickens and I've had zero problems with my hens. They are free range and happy laying ladies. This past spring, my neighbor - whom I share the property with because she is the landlord's daughter - decided to purchase hatchery chicks at random, and recently got a free juvenile rooster off of craigslist. She did not bother to quarantine any of her birds, especially the rooster! She just put him out in the yard immediately!! Now ALL of my chickens have a respiratory infection and i am forced to treat them with antibiotics. This happened within a couple days of this rooster showing up. I'm insanely angry. My girls are GMO-free USDA organic feed, free range, (were) antibiotic free, and happy and very healthy. I sell my eggs under the guise of actual natural eggs, come see the flock yourself!

My point is:
Has anyone else experienced this problem? This is a flock management post because I'm protecting my flock from the neighbors'. The buffer sone needed is obsolete because the property is about an eight of an acre with two homes on it. I've constructed a massive chicken run that encompasses a side yard and the entire back yard, but what is an appropriate distance from those other chickens should my flock be? Do I talk to my neighbor about her carelessness? It's too late now to quarantine their rooster. I'm frustrated and I suppose I'm looking for moral support.

Thanks,
Heather

 

[Percheron chick]

With horses it's a minimum of 40'. I would think with song birds, crows and the like, it would be an impossible proposition unless they are locked up 24/7 and no outside birds can eat or drink out of their equipment. I know a couple who raise hens and they have to lock them all up inside (1500 hens) because a neighbor also raises hens for eggs and even though those birds are also locked up they won't take any chances.

You definitely do need to go talk with her. Her actions could of just as easily wiped out both her's and your's flocks. I wouldn't worry about hatchery chicks. It's the juvenile and adult chickens that pose the greatest risk. Just don't expect anything to change so protect your flock.

 

[centrarchid]

All Percheron chick says I agree with. Additionally, you are into a situation involving land ownership. Do you have an agreement with landlord restricting another party from bringing in additional poultry regardless of source or biosecurity measures?

 

[aart]

I have a flock of 17 hens, all which have been properly quarantined and introduced into the original flock of 5. The 12 I acquired this past spring are from a breeder and have not introduced any diseases or pests into the existing flock. It's been a year since I began raising chickens and I've had zero problems with my hens. They are free range and happy laying ladies. This past spring, my neighbor - whom I share the property with because she is the landlord's daughter - decided to purchase hatchery chicks at random, and recently got a free juvenile rooster off of craigslist. She did not bother to quarantine any of her birds, especially the rooster! She just put him out in the yard immediately!! Now ALL of my chickens have a respiratory infection and i am forced to treat them with antibiotics. This happened within a couple days of this rooster showing up. I'm insanely angry. My girls are GMO-free USDA organic feed, free range, (were) antibiotic free, and happy and very healthy. I sell my eggs under the guise of actual natural eggs, come see the flock yourself!

My point is:
Has anyone else experienced this problem? This is a flock management post because I'm protecting my flock from the neighbors'. The buffer sone needed is obsolete because the property is about an eight of an acre with two homes on it. I've constructed a massive chicken run that encompasses a side yard and the entire back yard, but what is an appropriate distance from those other chickens should my flock be? Do I talk to my neighbor about her carelessness? It's too late now to quarantine their rooster. I'm frustrated and I suppose I'm looking for moral support.

Thanks,
Heather

Maybe, maybe not...how well do you know her?

She's your landlords daughter and you both live on the same small piece of land? I would think that you would already have a neighbor-type relationship with her and would know whether she would be open to learning of her mistake. ...and that you have already had discussions about chickens and their management.

Unless both flocks of birds are totally confined a good 30 or more feet apart, they will continue to share whatever pests and disease either might have...even then wild birds and wind can spread things. I suppose asking her to share the cost of treatment would do little to reduce your angst. Respiratory infections in poultry are not often cured but just managed, or so I've often read....might want to do some research to learn the details of what just what have and what you can do about it.

You're in a tough spot, living on someone else's land as you have few rights to dictate what goes on there-especially when there's a relative involved, can be dicey and I have no idea what options/risks might be. You have my empathy, not that that helps much.

 

[HomstdngHsewivs]

Thanks everyone for the support!

We do not have good neighborly relations with the daughter, we're cordial but tensions run very high around here due to some prior
Incidents'. We keep our distance because we don't want them in our business and we stay out of theirs. The main reason being that our housing is always on the line and we don't want to compromise our own situation. We live in WA and all it takes is for the landlord to give us a 30 day notice to get out despite having a lease. I don't even know how to broach the subject with them without it having a trickle down effect.

There is not a lease clause about outdoor animals on the property or about property quarantine measures. I was under the impression they knew what they were doing with bringing chickens home because I know they've had them up here before. But then this rooster just showed up off of Craigslist. We only know this because where our garden sits is right next to their cars and there was small talk in passing.

What do you propose us to do for is to do for preventive measures to keep my girls healthy? They're being treated with oxytetracycline but this is not something we wish to continue unless for emergencies. I'm just sitting here watching them forage in the yard as they sneeze and wheeze. I know I obviously cannot control or even counsel others on their actions, I want us to be safe. I have to pay rent today and I suppose that will be the best time to bring this up to them and how this can be prevented in the future. They may or may not head to the advice. It'd be great if there was a local chicken counsel or association to take my issue up with.

Empathy is much appreciated.
Thanks again everyone.

 

[aart]

With that type situation, I get the idea that you feel you shouldn't bother to say one thing unless you want to risk jeopardizing your place to live.
Might be the best thing to just keep quiet or things might end up much worse than a bunch of sick chickens...and there's probably isn't much that can be done to keep it from happening again anyway.

I do not know any specifics on identifying and treating poultry respiratory illnesses........just that some of them seem to be carriers forever.
I'd post a new thread with the details of the illness over on the Disease forum to get advice on what it is and how to treat, see how treatment works out.......and then maybe decide if and how to approach the neighbor.

Best of Luck to you.