Neighbors chickens keep breaking into my coop

[Tiffy316]

My neighbor free ranges his chickens. I almost always see them running around my yard, doing cute little chicken things. However, a few weeks ago, I noticed that I had some extra chickens in my coop. Somehow, my neighbor's chickens got into the barn and decided they wanted to spend the night. No matter how many times I released them, they would eventually break into the barn and hang out with my chickens.

I don't understand why his free range chickens would want to be with my penned up flock. I don't free range any of my chickens, but they have a run with a nice shady spot so they enjoy the sun. Anyway, I'm not exactly sure what to do about it. I don't have a problem with them sleeping with my chickens, but I don't want to accidentally steal his ladies bc they keep breaking in. What should I do about it?

 

[Callender Girl]

I'm a major worrier, so I would be concerned that the neighbor's birds might bring something contagious into my flock.

Have you told your neighbor, in a very kind way, that you are concerned about his flock hanging out with yours?

I let my poultry loose to "free range" only when I'm home to watch over them. Allowing them to spend the night elsewhere makes me think he may not be a responsible chicken owner. Maybe these chickens want to feel safe and your barn gives them some security?

IF that's the case and you're not worried about anyone's health, maybe there isn't a problem at all. You just get to enjoy more chickens!

 

[CrspyChkn]

I have had a similar situation, except the neighbor's girls sneak in when I leave the door open. My girls want out and theirs want in lol. If you are not worried about diseases or anything, and if your neighbor doesnt care, then I dont see a problem(other than the fact that that means there may be a way for predators to get in if you are worried about that, as I know some people decide against it and or cant predator proof, and some that want to make a chicken fortress and can do it). Good luck with your chickens!

 

[Nyhillbillies]

This is how we were adopted by our chickens! Our neighbor (compassionate) totally free ranges his big mixed flock. We never had a problem with it. We’re all country folk & friendly, no fences on property boundaries . He has a barn and various coops/shelters they sleep in, and sometimes they sleep outside on a tall fence.

We frequently had chickens or guinea hens or domestic turkeys or ducks wandering about. We enjoy them! 2 summers ago, this particular rooster and one barred hen were coming around regularly. Then, 5 white hens came around with them. They all left at night. We thought nothing of it. One day, while working outside, we find eggs in a lean-to that had been a former large doghouse (4’x8’). Hmmmm. Then again on another day! We put out a bit of hay in the lean-to, as a tester. Yup, more eggs and what looks like perching. Maybe they aren’t going home at night!

Winter arrived. We discovered they were sleeping under the house! We could hear them cooing. We are homesteaders, live in a homemade cabin on cement pillars on a slab. This won’t do! They could freeze! They were perching on the sewer pipe! Aaaargh!

So , after a harrowing winter ( they were fine, we weren’t), we renovated the lean-to into a coop. Had no idea what or how to do it (didn’t have BYC then). We built 3 nesting boxes, installed a heated water dish and a food dish, installed a RING camera and waited…. It was all very humble.

The rooster and barred hen moved in lock stock and barrel after they had much conversation over it. The white hens slowly acclimated to the coop. The only thing we knew is that we got eggs! We left the coop wide open at night for their pleasure.

I cringe when I think how we made GOD work so hard protecting those birds for us! We had active wildlife: skunks, groundhogs, possums, foxes, fishers, squirrels, ferral cats & dogs, coyotes, hawks….. all are welcome on our ‘land ark’.

Nothing bothered them! Critters came and went. The flock stayed. 6 of them did, 1 white chose to go back home. By then, we had purchased the 6 from the neighbor, because we were benefiting from the eggs. He happily sold them to us, as his flock was (and is) large.

We got smarter, became closer to our neighbors, learned alot more about the care and well-being of a flock, moved them into a bigger new coop, fenced a large area, and keeping them safe.

 

[SmiYa0126]

This is how we were adopted by our chickens! Our neighbor (compassionate) totally free ranges his big mixed flock. We never had a problem with it. We’re all country folk & friendly, no fences on property boundaries . He has a barn and various coops/shelters they sleep in, and sometimes they sleep outside on a tall fence.

We frequently had chickens or guinea hens or domestic turkeys or ducks wandering about. We enjoy them! 2 summers ago, this particular rooster and one barred hen were coming around regularly. Then, 5 white hens came around with them. They all left at night. We thought nothing of it. One day, while working outside, we find eggs in a lean-to that had been a former large doghouse (4’x8’). Hmmmm. Then again on another day! We put out a bit of hay in the lean-to, as a tester. Yup, more eggs and what looks like perching. Maybe they aren’t going home at night!

Winter arrived. We discovered they were sleeping under the house! We could hear them cooing. We are homesteaders, live in a homemade cabin on cement pillars on a slab. This won’t do! They could freeze! They were perching on the sewer pipe! Aaaargh!

So , after a harrowing winter ( they were fine, we weren’t), we renovated the lean-to into a coop. Had no idea what or how to do it (didn’t have BYC then). We built 3 nesting boxes, installed a heated water dish and a food dish, installed a RING camera and waited…. It was all very humble.

The rooster and barred hen moved in lock stock and barrel after they had much conversation over it. The white hens slowly acclimated to the coop. The only thing we knew is that we got eggs! We left the coop wide open at night for their pleasure.

I cringe when I think how we made GOD work so hard protecting those birds for us! We had active wildlife: skunks, groundhogs, possums, foxes, fishers, squirrels, ferral cats & dogs, coyotes, hawks….. all are welcome on our ‘land ark’.

Nothing bothered them! Critters came and went. The flock stayed. 6 of them did, 1 white chose to go back home. By then, we had purchased the 6 from the neighbor, because we were benefiting from the eggs. He happily sold them to us, as his flock was (and is) large.

We got smarter, became closer to our neighbors, learned alot more about the care and well-being of a flock, moved them into a bigger new coop, fenced a large area, and keeping them safe.

What a beautiful story!!!!!!!! I think I got something in my eye, lol

 

[Tiffy316]

This is how we were adopted by our chickens! Our neighbor (compassionate) totally free ranges his big mixed flock. We never had a problem with it. We’re all country folk & friendly, no fences on property boundaries . He has a barn and various coops/shelters they sleep in, and sometimes they sleep outside on a tall fence.

We frequently had chickens or guinea hens or domestic turkeys or ducks wandering about. We enjoy them! 2 summers ago, this particular rooster and one barred hen were coming around regularly. Then, 5 white hens came around with them. They all left at night. We thought nothing of it. One day, while working outside, we find eggs in a lean-to that had been a former large doghouse (4’x8’). Hmmmm. Then again on another day! We put out a bit of hay in the lean-to, as a tester. Yup, more eggs and what looks like perching. Maybe they aren’t going home at night!

Winter arrived. We discovered they were sleeping under the house! We could hear them cooing. We are homesteaders, live in a homemade cabin on cement pillars on a slab. This won’t do! They could freeze! They were perching on the sewer pipe! Aaaargh!

So , after a harrowing winter ( they were fine, we weren’t), we renovated the lean-to into a coop. Had no idea what or how to do it (didn’t have BYC then). We built 3 nesting boxes, installed a heated water dish and a food dish, installed a RING camera and waited…. It was all very humble.

The rooster and barred hen moved in lock stock and barrel after they had much conversation over it. The white hens slowly acclimated to the coop. The only thing we knew is that we got eggs! We left the coop wide open at night for their pleasure.

I cringe when I think how we made GOD work so hard protecting those birds for us! We had active wildlife: skunks, groundhogs, possums, foxes, fishers, squirrels, ferral cats & dogs, coyotes, hawks….. all are welcome on our ‘land ark’.

Nothing bothered them! Critters came and went. The flock stayed. 6 of them did, 1 white chose to go back home. By then, we had purchased the 6 from the neighbor, because we were benefiting from the eggs. He happily sold them to us, as his flock was (and is) large.

We got smarter, became closer to our neighbors, learned alot more about the care and well-being of a flock, moved them into a bigger new coop, fenced a large area, and keeping them safe.

I'm pretty sure these guys can fly bc I saw a a couple on top of the run fence, and it's a very tall fence. But they choose to enter on their own when I'm not around, and I've seen them running around with my chickens during the day and sleeping with them at night. Night is the only time I can catch some of them, and I don't want to put them out when predators are running around, so a couple of them have been there for a while. I'm not concerned about them bringing any diseases to my flock bc they're still pullets. If nothing else, the ones I can't catch have food and security while they're there.

 

[RubelliteRose]

So if I had to guess, your neighbor is free ranging his chickens, but not providing any extra (or not enough extra) feed. We free range our flock, but also have food available in the run during the day for them to eat as well. Many properties don't have enough plant and insect life to support an exclusively free range flock.
If it is only some of his chickens, the other possibility is that the younger ones are being chased away by the older ones.
I'm a little surprised that your flock has accepted them so easily. Two of my neighbor's girls tried to join my flock last year. They had just started laying eggs and thought they were too cool to hang around his much younger chicks. They strutted up to my flock, ready to hang out with the big girls, but my head hen said No! and chased them off
Depending upon how many chickens your neighbors have, they may not know some are missing if they don't do a head count. They may have assumed they were taken by predators. They may want them back or they may not care if you keep them. In any case, you should probably talk to your neighbors to find out

 

[Nyhillbillies]

Perhaps the visitors are looking for sanctuary!

 

[Ridgerunner]

t I don't want to accidentally steal his ladies bc they keep breaking in. What should I do about it?

Sounds like your neighbor is keeping the chickens the way many people have been doing for thousands of years. They treat them more as livestock instead of as pets. If the quality of forage is good the chickens will find most or even all they need to eat during the good weather months. Depending in the quality of the forage or time of the year they might or might not supplement their food. The chickens free range. They might or might not lock them up at night. Sometimes they sleep in trees or at least some of them do. The owners are usually quite inhumane when it comes to dealing with predators. Chickens have done quite well raised that way for thousands of years, but it kind of takes someone used to raising them that way. Predators can be an issue but are usually managed.

It is too late to worry about diseases or parasites. Yours have been exposed to theirs, theirs have been exposed to yours. If either flock has anything, both flocks now do.

What should you do about it? Talk to your neighbor. Don't go over ranting, raving, shouting, and threatening. Just let them know you are not trying to steal their chickens. If you have other concerns let them know. See what you can work out.

I'm not a lawyer but legally I'd think it is their responsibility to keep their animals off of your property. Folks that grow up in the country tend to work these things out between themselves without involving law enforcement. If their animals are causing you harm that would be an option, but it would be my last resort. I find friendly neighbors a lot easier to get along with.

 

[SourRoses]

It sounds like they are not feeding them. They are coming for the free meals.
You may want to talk to your neighbor about humane treatment of animals.
Most modern breeds lay too many eggs to subsist only on what they can forage.