Neighbor's Chickens Trying to Join My Flock

[ryneaeiel]

That's only legal if the dog is on your property. You can't shoot your neighbor's dog if it's properly contained on its owner's property and a chicken happens to wander into its territory.

This.

You can't shoot a dog (or any animal for that matter) because it killed an animal that doesn't belong on its property. It's the owner's responsibility to keep their animals contained. If they fail to do that, the consequences are on them, not on whoever happens to find the animal first (especially if the animal is somewhere it shouldn't be, like on a neighbor's property, who happens to own a dog...)

 

[aart]

I don't understand why this is a thing.

Because people would rather talk(type) than listen(read)?

 

[BDutch]

Because people would rather talk(type) than listen(read)?

It often doesn’t contribute if someone replies to the first message(s) of the OP because the new contributor is saying what has been told before or things have evolved.
Anyway in this case ‘Buffy-the-eggpile-layer’ got so many tips and hints that probably every possibility is covered at least twice and in the mean time the situation has evolved quit a bit since she started the thread.

 

[Snooky doodle]

That's only legal if the dog is on your property. You can't shoot your neighbor's dog if it's properly contained on its owner's property and a chicken happens to wander into its territory.

Very true-only on your property! If you go onto your neighbors property and do this you'll be arrested and loose your gun rights!! They must be caught in the act of killing on YOUR property! Check local laws on this. 3 dogs killed in this neighborhood alone in last 10 years. Best to follow ordinances and keep your animals contained and safe on YOUR property!!

 

[raingarden]

Good fences make for good neighbors. The neighbors flock are predators or vermin of sorts when they steal your food. Either get a better fence or give up keeping chickens.

 

[vintage]

@BDutch @Isadora T @vintage thank you for the kind, warm words. I hope I didn't come off as too melodramatic--my marriage is fine, but this has been a source of frequent bickering and thus a bit of a dark cloud in our household. however, I'm happy to report that we've both come to an understanding of one another's concerns and are working towards respecting/empathizing with one another's perspectives, which do stem from the same root problem. I'll post an update on the situation shortly, but just wanted to say thanks for your supportive words.

That is good to hear! I think the strain will lessen even more once they move. I really hope they are unable to take the flock and give them to someone better suited to caring for chickens.

 

[PopoMyers]

After reading through many of these posts, My, oh, my. What a delicate situation, so stressful on your compassionate heart..Bless you for continuing your efforts to care about these helpless creatures. They are much smarter than their owners. Animals are survivalists, and know where and what to go and do for that basic instinct. My 2 cents is, if they want to stay with you, let them, and slowly re-home them. As the flock dwindles, they may not have the time to replace them. The fox will probably return for more meals, as predators are known to do. Easy pickin's. There are always people willing to take a point of lay hen. Their property is larger than your one acre? Is it wooded? There are a couple articles on 100% free-ranging, but this doesn't seem to fit this annoying and heartbreaking situation. Seems finding fodder in wooded areas is more likely than grassy exposed places. I feel for you and your husband. May there be a good resolution for this. We are rooting for you.
Thread 'Successful 100% forage diet experiment (long post)' https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/successful-100-forage-diet-experiment-long-post.1435544/

 

[PopoMyers]

Very true-only on your property! If you go onto your neighbors property and do this you'll be arrested and loose your gun rights!! They must be caught in the act of killing on YOUR property! Check local laws on this. 3 dogs killed in this neighborhood alone in last 10 years. Best to follow ordinances and keep your animals contained and safe on YOUR property!!

Yes, true here. We once had 2 German shepherds who packed and roamed the neighborhood. They killed both our rabbits at night by terrorizing one by biting his feet through the bottom of the hutch hardware cloth, and pulling the giant through the cage bottom, which was torn. The rabbit was found in the neighbor's yard, one of the dog owners. Hubby almost shot them, but decided to just fire into the ground to scare them off. It is legal here to shoot any thing that preys on your livestock on your property. The other dog returned here, so I caught it, tied it up, and animal control came for it. At the time, bail for a dog was $250. Not sure if that younger dog was retrieved, but we never saw it again.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That's only legal if the dog is on your property. You can't shoot your neighbor's dog if it's properly contained on its owner's property and a chicken happens to wander into its territory.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

Hi everyone! I wanted to close this loop with a bit of good news, so we can all know there was a happy ending for this ongoing saga.

The last straw: after the neighbors' roaming Tom tried to attack my husband and dog again, to the degree that my husband stayed in the house and the tom stalked him from window to window lol, he finally had enough and firmly told the neighbors to rehome their flock immediately (2nd request, but way less patient than he was the first time some months back). Of course, the next day--a hot summer day--the turkey is locked in a small stall in the shed with no food, and my husband and I let him out and told the neighbors "that's not what we want." We offered to pay them to rehome their chickens and then, even though they refused help to find a home, I went ahead and got them one.

Turning Point: An old friend from work who has a large farm in the mountains agreed to makes space in her barn for the WHOLE flock! That's right: they go to go together. It's a rustic set up, but, get this: there's plenty of ventilation! Also, the barn has concrete walls and insulation, so I'll know they are much more comfortable than they had been. They will also get to free range with her current flock, so they'll have a similar lifestyle to what they are used to. Lastly, my friend is retired and I know she will spend a lot of time looking out for her animals (because that is what she likes to do!). In fact, this whole thing has rekindled our friendship, so I've been down to visit her and my godchickens every week--and it's been a beautiful thing.

Happy Ending: The chickens seem to have made themselves at home and merged quite peacefully with the current flock. The turkey has calmed down and continues to be a great flock protector and friend to his new family. Everyone seems happy, and while I miss them like crazy, it feels good to know they are being looked after and cherished. Our neighbors may hate us now for interfering (pride issues), but at least it's actually resolved/taken care of.

Thank you, everyone, for your kind, supportive posts over the past year! You all helped me--and the chickens/turkeys--get through a stressful ordeal, and I'm so happy to report this good news! Please feel free to scroll on for some pictures of the girls in their new digs