Nervous Neighbor...Please help

[Yellowbelly]

Hello all. We have never had chickens and don't know anyone else that has. We live in a regular neighborhood in NC. Our backdoor neighbors just built a coop and built it really close to our property line. We have a corral type fence between our yards that basically marks the property line but it offers no resistance to anything that wants to walk through it, over it or under it. We have a small dog that is indoors 90% of the time and only goes out to use the bathroom. We have two small children, 1 and 3.

We are VERY concerned about having predators on and around our property, and for the safety of our family and pets, because of the neighbors new coop. A) Is this a legitimate concern? What should we expect, if anything? And B) if this is a legitimate concern, what can we do to protect ourselves?

 

[Judy]

Dogs are probably chickens' #1 predator. Hopefully, they will build a fenced yard or run which will contain their chickens and keep predators out, discouraging them from hanging around. If they don't, the chickens will probably forage on your property as well as theirs, and your dog might very well be the predator and kill them. Of course it is their responsibility to contain their chickens, but it's also your responsibility to keep your dog on your property -- and if they are running loose, they will be a huge temptation to your dog. You don't want your dog going through the fence to their property, if only to protect your dog from being shot or sent to the pound by your neighbors.

 

[enola]

Are you worried about the predators that will come around because your neighbor has chickens?

 

[Yellowbelly]

That's right. We have a fear that the chickens will attract predators, that spill over into our yard. We don't know what to expect, if anything, so I thought you guys might be better suited to speak from experience.

 

[enola]

Predators are already there. You just do not know it yet. There are threads on here of people putting up surveilence cameras to see what goes on in the back yard after dark. They are amazed at what they see.

In NC I can tell you that you already have foxes, raccoons, possum, feral cats, skunks, dogs and maybe coyotes wandering through your yard at night. I know in SC I have ALL of those predators in my urban back yard.

Chickens don't necessarily attract predators - they just cause the predators that are already there to hang around long enough to get dinner.

Like flockwatcher said your dog is likely to become a predator unless confined to your property. And it is their responsibility to keep their chickens on their property if they choose to let their chickens free range.

 

[blucoondawg]

any predator which will come to check out the chicken situation is an animal that already lives in your area and likely moves through your yard from time to time anyways. What region do you live in and how urban is it?

 

[Judy]

Predators are already there. You just do not know it yet. There are threads on here of people putting up surveilence cameras to see what goes on in the back yard after dark. They are amazed at what they see.

This is so true. Even large cities have resident populations of coons, coyotes,fox, and so forth. Never mind the deer, moose, etc. in their areas....

 

[moetrout]

I think your real concern should be for your own dog. Make sure your dog stays in your yard. Your dog in their yard with their chickens is likely to be shot or taken to the pound and it's your fault. However turn that around, their chickens in your yard are likely to be dinner for your dog and it's their fault. I honestly wouldn't be concerned about the chickens attracting predators.

On a positive note, get to be friends with your neighbors and maybe you can get some of those yummy fresh eggs. If you've never been around chickens then you would be surprised at how entertaining they can be to watch. Even more fun if they would let you kids feed them some treats. I don't know a kid who doesn't like that. It's a good thing, embrace it.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Put a fenceless wire fence in the ground and put a shock collar on your pooch every time it goes outside. Then your dog will be blameless when he takes care of your so called chicken problem for you.
Or you could feed the neighbor's chickens and collect the eggs when they lay on your property.

 

[Kev]

That's right. We have a fear that the chickens will attract predators, that spill over into our yard. We don't know what to expect, if anything, so I thought you guys might be better suited to speak from experience.

very often the number/density of predators is HIGHER in urbanized areas... This is because of trash... and cat/dog lovers. So many cat and dog lovers leave out bowls of pet food 24/7, creating a surplus food supply for predators. If the owner discovers the predators, they might be so charmed by them they intentionally leave out food for them. The predators get so much food that their urban territories can be significantly smaller than those living out in the country.

When I lived in Los Angeles for two years, I saw far, far more opossums, foxes, coyotes, raccoons than my entire life growing up and moving back in the country afterwards. Example- saw foxes only four times in the country... during those LA years it was something like 20. Country coyotes are extremely shy and nervous.. but in the city they were trotting in plain sight on the side walks or on sides of streets like they were escaped pet dogs out for a roam.

In reality, it's all those cat and dog lovers (and all those trash cans) all around you that are bringing in more predators and have been already there all along.