Unsure of how to proceed.

[Sledwards]

Okay, story time.
I have 10 hens and a rooster, 7 hens are original to my flock going on 3 years, 3 hens were hatched out from one of the older ladies. All is good within our flock and we get plenty of eggs, our birds free range in the yard at all times. When we built our coop we made it big enough to support around 30 birds, just in case.

One year into our flock, new neighbors decide they're going to get chickens as well. Hooray. They seem like nice enough people etc. Well, turns out they aren't so nice of people. They don't feed any of their animals properly. They had 3 goats die of starvation, multiple chickens died as well. They sold off all of the rest of their goats and a majority of the remaining chickens. The last three hens that they couldn't catch have been roaming around ours, theirs and neighboring properties. They have fenced in areas but left the gate open because they don't care. Here's the deal, 2 of their 3 hens have managed to jump our fence and are hanging out in our yard. I don't mind, we have enough to feed a few extra birds. I also really doubt they're going to notice or care.

Now, our older ladies seem to be just fine with the new arrivals, however, the younger hens and the rooster aren't too fond of them. I can't catch the newest hens, they're far too frightened of people because of their treatment. I'm relatively certain they're healthy, if a little hungry. My question is, do I let everyone just figure it out on their own as far pecking order goes or should I just try to get rid of the outsiders? I know when introducing new chickens to a flock you should keep everyone separated for a bit but that's just not possible as I can't catch them. I could shoot the newest ones though I prefer not to do that.

 

[Lady Grey]

Following

 

[sophiaw00]

Wow! Our stories are very very similar. I have a neighbor that doesn't take care of his two hens. We have no fence between our properties and they have been free ranging since they were chicks (13 weeks old). He had 6 of them and two ducks, all but the two remaining chickens were killed by raccoons. His two girls would always be in my yard standing around my chicken run. His are only a few weeks older than mine, and I JUST started letting mine free range 2 weeks ago, so the only interaction they had was through the fence. Anyways, they were scared of me for a long time as well but I caught them once and I held them both for awhile and after that they have seemed to be OK with me. One of them even follows me around and will eat out of my hand (that took a long time to get her to do). When my chickens (9 hens and a rooster) started freeranging, they didn't like the newcomers. The rooster would chase them back home, but they always came back because I was the only one who fed them. I let them figure it out themselves. Now, Martha & Henrietta (the neighbor chickens) free range with mine all the time and I will often find them in my run or coop. They eat the layer pellets frequently because they aren't fed at home and are starving most of the time. I wish I could lock them up in my coop/run so I could claim them as mine, but my neighbor comes and chases them back into his yard at night so that they lay their eggs in the morning...

 

[aart]

Okay, story time.
I have 10 hens and a rooster, 7 hens are original to my flock going on 3 years, 3 hens were hatched out from one of the older ladies. All is good within our flock and we get plenty of eggs, our birds free range in the yard at all times. When we built our coop we made it big enough to support around 30 birds, just in case.

One year into our flock, new neighbors decide they're going to get chickens as well. Hooray. They seem like nice enough people etc. Well, turns out they aren't so nice of people. They don't feed any of their animals properly. They had 3 goats die of starvation, multiple chickens died as well. They sold off all of the rest of their goats and a majority of the remaining chickens. The last three hens that they couldn't catch have been roaming around ours, theirs and neighboring properties. They have fenced in areas but left the gate open because they don't care. Here's the deal, 2 of their 3 hens have managed to jump our fence and are hanging out in our yard. I don't mind, we have enough to feed a few extra birds. I also really doubt they're going to notice or care.

Now, our older ladies seem to be just fine with the new arrivals, however, the younger hens and the rooster aren't too fond of them. I can't catch the newest hens, they're far too frightened of people because of their treatment. I'm relatively certain they're healthy, if a little hungry. My question is, do I let everyone just figure it out on their own as far pecking order goes or should I just try to get rid of the outsiders? I know when introducing new chickens to a flock you should keep everyone separated for a bit but that's just not possible as I can't catch them. I could shoot the newest ones though I prefer not to do that.

Where are these 2 hens roosting at night?
That would be the best/easiest time to capture them.

You could set out a live trap or two for the interlopers and keep your chickens confined until you catch the 2.

Just some ideas, tough situation.

 

[chickmomma03]

I don't get why people get animals and can't take care of them. If you can, I'd set up an area that's semi-open, but warm and dry for the new ones to escape to. If not, I'd be inclined to call animal control and let them catch and rehome them. Poor chickens.

 

[ordinaryacres]

I would have animal control come and get them either way. My reason being is that when dealing with neighbors of that magnitude - my neighbor left his dog outside and it got frostbite, gang green, and had to have a leg amputated -- you could be stirring up a different set of problems by keeping the chicken. What if they call and say you stole it? Or if they think its appropriate to come on your property and collect eggs from "their chickens" from YOUR coop. Sounds like by keeping them, you will undoubtedly inherit someone else's problems, and possibly some of your own. I feel for you, but in today's day, I'd rather play it safe and keep separate from people like that.
Just my 2c worth..

Cristine

 

[Sledwards]

Thanks for all the replies, still unsure of what I can do, I called animal control, and they said they won't do anything about chickens. It's a pretty rural and backwards area. The chickens are still coming over and eating our feed but continue to go back to their barn to roost at night. It's not like 2 chickens are going to break our bank but I really don't want to be paying for their responsibility.
These people make me want to scream, they have more money than they know what to do with obviously, as they put in a brand new huge barn and new fence for all those animals just to let a bunch die of starvation and then got rid of the rest. These same people just bought their children a new swimming pool trampoline, give them whatever they want and don't say no. They also get $100/month allowance for whatever else they want...for doing NOTHING. They're rude, their children are rude and spoiled, and they have no respect for the animals they have.

Animal control did say I was within my rights to shoot the birds since they're in my yard, however, I doubt that's gonna help the relationship with the jerk neighbors and I really prefer not to put down perfectly good egg layers.

On a side note, these poor underfed chickens absolutely destroyed my tomato plants that I had in my front yard away from our chickens. Had 6 plants full of the most beautiful Brandywines and Lemonboys and they demolished them. And ripped up the plants too. I don't blame the chickens, they're just animals doing what they have to. I blame irresponsible owners.

 

[allpeepedout]

First choice would be discussing with owners and returning them home. But sounds like that may create problems for you. I have had retaliation from owners whose dogs were running my livestock, so I know the difficulty.

But rather than killing them, I would discreetly capture them. Hold for a couple of days to see if owners come looking for them. If they do, have a discussion then and return hens. If not, "upgrade" their home with a grateful new owner who would appreciate the hens and some eggs. Post on the free / rehoming board here, etc.

 

[chickmomma03]

Quote: The plant itself can really harm a chicken, I suggest netting of some type to prevent access in the future if they're still around and you're not going to capture. That's absurd though, they need to either accept responsibility and contain their chickens or rehome them.

 

[123RedBeard]

Sounds like time for chicken soup ...