Vent.. neighbor doesn't want my chickens on her back lawn.

[Jennyhaschicks]

I asked her nicely not to throw rocks at them and she said she wouldn't let the boys actually hit them with rocks. I told her I see that as animal abuse and she said she wouldn't let it happen again. I told her I don't go throwing rocks at her dog who is on my property and I never would.

 

[laxrick]

If you have all that acreage, and they only have one acre, why not move the chickens?

Either way, they chose to buy a small lot next to a farm is probably not a good idea. It's cheaper for a reason!

 

[Jennyhaschicks]

Quote:
Move them where? They free range around their chicken coop. The woods surround us and they don't go into the woods. Years ago when their one acre lot was purchased we weren't a farm.

 

[HennysMom]

Well now you're dealing with "family" - not just a random neighbor - DEFINATLEY makes a difference and a huge one at that.

You have 1 of 2 choices - you live with what they are doing or you take control of the situation and end it.

They dont pay your mortgage or your bills - they have no rights to your land, however - now that you mentioned they put a drainage ditch on your property and you knew about it - they can legally become the owners of said parcel under certain land-laws (at least in VA they can...)

You're dealing with a massive headache in the making and if they go to sell that property - it will be even worse for you and the next owners because you will have to re-issue the land lines due to knowingly allowing the previous owners to have rights to your property; sewage and water rights.

Know you dont want to be "mean" here, but its not about being mean - its about what you own and what they own. If they werent family and some random stranger from across the street decided to build a house on your 28 acres, just picked 1 acre out of your land and up and built one day..- how would you feel then? - Same principal here..

 

[FrontPorchIndiana]

You need to call and get an official survey of your property done ASAP to verify the property line, then build whatever fence strikes your fancy. Otherwise this situation could easily spin wildly out of control.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
What were they digging? Did they put a septic field on your property? If they did that is a huge problem. Under adverse possession laws they can lay claim to parts of your land that they have used for a long period of time.

Let's say that a homeowner is unclear where the property line is and puts up a partition fence that 20' over onto the adjacent neighbors property. He maintains and uses that extra piece of land. He mows the lawn there and maybe has a vegetable garden. If this continues for a period of time and the owner of the land that he is encroaching on says nothing about it, then that land can be claimed by the person that was using it.

It happens all the time. Somebody goes to sell their property and after a survey realizes that he has been using part of the neighbor's land for 20 years, the parcel he is selling is now worth less because it is smaller (in his eyes anyways) or there are further problems, like a septic field that has been built there that would take $10,000 to have back within the property lines. In many cases the owner will just file in civil court and has a judge rule that the property is now his because he has been using it for 20 years and nobody complained.

 

[Trollkiller]

Quote:
If you don't want to move the dog have a LAWYER draw up a usage agreement to be signed by your neighbors that specifies that they are using your land by permission but have NO claim to that property.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

I looked up the Maine fence laws here:

http://asci.uvm.edu/equine/law/fence/me_fnc.htm

They are much as I stated for the state of Wisconsin. Owners of adjacent lands are equally responsible for maintaining fence lines. If you desire a fence between the two properties, they are required to foot half of the cost and half the cost of maintenance. If they refuse, you can take civil action against them and recoup up to twice your costs plus 1% interest per month.

 

[wyliefarms]

This sounds like a bigger head ache than just the fence. I like the temporary orange fence, that way they cannot miss it, especially the kids on the go-cart

Get a professional survey done, check with the township and/or building dept. about the underground stuff on your property. I would make them dig it up and put it on their own property.

Give them a deadline to get their trailer off your property too.

you must reclaim your property or you will have a bigger mess if either one of you try to sell...

Good luck and get some balls and handle it!

 

[arlee453]

As others have stated, if they have a history of using your property, they can claim LEGALLY that they have the right to continue using your property if you have been allowing it. In NC I believe it only has to be 7 years and then they can claim a right of way.

I hate it's come to this wth your neighbors, but think of it this way - if they sold their property, then the new owners may have a legal claim to continue using your property for their dog run, drainage lines, etc since you never told the other people 'no' or got it in writing.

Unless you are in a very restrictive neighborhood (and with 28 acres and pigs, I assume not) there should be no undue restrictions on what type of fence you can build. Just check with your local zoning officials as far as how far back you have to build, etc, before starting.

I'd be tempted to fence around your boundary lines with this neighbor with a 8' wooden picket fence....