Neighbor's Chickens Trying to Join My Flock

[Acre4Me]

Honestly I'm really not interested in having "tough conversations" that could sour a neighborly relationship. On the other hand the behavior of the chickens would annoy me. Personally I think I'd just go with the path of least resistance and leave feed out near the property line. I wouldn't be splurging on good food either lol. But if you can afford a bag of cheap feed and it keeps the peace between your neighbors and the hens I would go that way. I realize this would not be for everyone. But I just personally wouldn't cause a stink over this.

I’m mostly in this camp too...mostly because of the fact that OP @buffy-the-eggpile-layer says the neighbors are friends. So far, the words mostly fall on deaf ears. A direct or strong approach might sour the relationship. And a bad neighbor relationship is no good.

however, this is bags of feed...granted they can go cheaper on the extra feed. But it would be hard to keep them out of the coop/run when it is open, so they would eat the flock feed anyway. It depends on what OP feels is the real issue and if it’s a livable situation or not. If not, what can change realistically? OP knows them and what is important to them, and what isn’t so difficult for them to hear. Not sure, but an off handed remark about how they rush your feeders every day combined with the fact that fewer bugs and forage are to be had in the past few months might make something click for them.

Eventually these chickens will pass away, the neighbors may not get any more. But they will likely still live next to you, so keeping a good relationship is important.

 

[Solanacae]

I think it’s important to phrase this issue in terms that would resonate with your neighbors. Are they trying to save money by having the girls free range? If so, then raising the point that their chickens are “robbing” you might be something that they can understand. You can take a video of them gobbling down your feed and say something along the lines of, “Look, I really like your chickens and all, but they’re getting into my run and eating our feed. I’m not sure where else they’ve been able to forage, but they’ve decided that my feeders are the best place to get a meal and they’re eating a lot. I worry what will happen if your whole flock discovers where these few have been going. I don’t mind feeding them, but would you mind reimbursing me for the cost of the food?”
If they aren’t willing to pay you back, then you could suggest that they need to come up with a better way to keep their chickens out of your feed. You can always play a little dumb and say, “I don’t know if it would help, but (insert something about spreading the feed out so all chickens can get to it equally, trying to feed them more just to see if it would keep them closer to home, etc)
If you have a good relationship with them, then tell them that! “Hey, I’m really glad that you guys are our neighbors and that we’ve been able to get along so well. I don’t want chicken feed to get in the way of that, but at the same time, we can’t afford to feed your flock and ours.”
Just some thoughts, good luck! That’s a tough situation to be in.

 

[Solanacae]

I think your thread title says it best: neighbor's chickens trying to join your flock...that's all you have to say.

"Your chickens are trying to join my flock, and it's becoming a problem to my flock."

Then be quiet and let them talk. If they don't offer a solution, ask them for a solution.

See what they say as to a solution and then you'll know how to proceed.

This is a fantastic idea.

 

[Davethebirdman]

I'm having an issue with my neighbors flock storming my run and eating like they're starving whenever I let my girls out to supervise free range. It wasn't always like this: a few of the neighbor's hens who were always getting bullied would come down and snack/hang out (I also saved one from near-death from a turkey attack). But in the last few weeks, they suddenly started acting ravenous and would wipe out my flock's supplies in no time.

Well, last week we were tasked with watching their chickens while they were out of town. The first time we were to check on them was an evening; and we were horrified to see they had no feed left. But upon alerting the neighbors, they said they only give them two cups in the morning and that's it because they want them to free range for their food. The sad thing is, before we found out they were getting rationed, we filled their feeder up and they all ate it like they were starving. So, I think the reason some of the lower rung girls from their flock are desperately clamoring into mine for feed and clean water is because they probably aren't even getting any. And when I say desperate: they will dart in under my feet any chance they get, attack the feeder to the degree that it's swinging all over, and keep eating even if my girls start attacking them. This is new behavior. I hate kicking them out, but I have to sometimes.

I'm in a tough spot. I've bonded with these girls and I don't want them to be starving, but I also can't afford double the feed for them, nor is my run reliably open access. It's also impossible for me to keep them out all the time when I supervise free range because my girls like to come and go. Some of the neighbors hens even run in there and lay eggs now!

So, I want to tactfully tell the neighbors that I think they may need to up their girls' feed rations, but I'm worried about coming off judgy, and these neighbors pride themselves on raising a 'tough' flock (the girls' coop is a a large shed with no ventilation, and their water buckets have algae growing in them--they also used to pen them in with turkeys until one of their girls nearly got killed, but luckily ran down to my run where I found her). I feel bad and want to help them but realize it's not my place. What's the best way to handle this?

I should also note that we have a good relationship with said neighbors, just very different approaches to chicken-keeping. They are busy and hands-off, and we work from home, are always the ones to watch them when they are (frequently) away, and otherwise are always swarmed by their chickens and the ones to discover issues.

Birds are very social flock animals. Notice how birds fly in groups in the sky? Same concept

 

[FactoryReject]

Animal control? for chickens?! what are they going to do? Some one gets them, and they will just become meat. Chickens can eat pretty much anything so you don't need it to be just feed. In the rare chance that you live in Alabama, USA, I will take them.

 

[WindingRoad]

Honestly I'm really not interested in having "tough conversations" that could sour a neighborly relationship. On the other hand the behavior of the chickens would annoy me. Personally I think I'd just go with the path of least resistance and leave feed out near the property line. I wouldn't be splurging on good food either lol. But if you can afford a bag of cheap feed and it keeps the peace between your neighbors and the hens I would go that way. I realize this would not be for everyone. But I just personally wouldn't cause a stink over this.

What if these birds have a disease and give it to the OP's chickens. Lice, mites etc also.

 

[FactoryReject]

What if these birds have a disease and give it to the OP's chickens. Lice, mites etc also.

Yeh

 

[BDutch]

Starving animals doesn't toughen them up, it weakens them and it's animal cruelty! I'd film the chickens' desperate attempts to get food, then go over to the neighbor to show them a video of their chickens. Maybe if they could see the desperation themselves, it might wake them up.

Agree.
@buffy-the-eggpile-layer if you don’t like to go over to confront the neighbours with a film of their chickens trespassing and eating your feed, you could WhatsApp /post the film with a polite comment. Like “ Did you know you're flock is eating my feed?”

Another approach you could consider:
Ask your husband to take action and speak to them. Is he fully aware of this problem and how much feed you are feeding the flock next door. Doing this together can make a difference.
Or
You can go to the neighbours and talk about putting up a fence and why this is something you both consider doing.

Love it that you care this much for all animals. I wish you can be strong and assertive enough to achieve you’re goal. I still think that talking and explaining is really the best way to solve this issue.

Edit: I think too that it’s a hazard to let the two flocks mingle because if the neighbours chickens are in a weakened condition they can easily get sick and pass on parasites.

 

[JedJackson]

Start a gofundme page to pay for the extra feed. I would contribute and I'm sure others would, too. Maybe it will embarrass the neighbors into caring for their chickens properly.

 

[3KillerBs]

I don't know that I could call animal control. Beyond this, we have a great relationship and I care about them

I realize that it's difficult to process the idea that people you like, with whom you have a friendly relationship, are cruelly neglecting their animals but that's the fact here.

By feeding their birds for them you are enabling their behavior.

The bottom line is that they HAVE NO RIGHT to,

A. Allow their birds to leave their property in search of food,

B. Expect you to feed their birds for them.

By expecting you to take care of their birds for them and ignoring the fact that you've told them their birds are on your property and eating your feed they have proven that they're not good neighbors and not friends. Rather, they are taking advantage of you.