(Well-meaning) human predators in the chicken run, Oh No!

[oldhen2345]

Need some suggestions on how to handle young neighborhood kids...

" I am not quite sure on how to best both encourage these children while at the same time stressing to them that there are boundaries which should not be crossed - like going into the chicken run and trying to open the pop door!

QUOTE]
I have had the same issue. When I was working and away from home all day I would come home to find things messed with in the coop - the side door left open- it has a slide latch, so it doesn't open by itself, the shed door standing open, ceramic statues broken on the patio. I thought it was kids - but this year when I went to clean and straighten out the shed, I found some tools missing - I had bought a new pole saw that was still in the box. When I went to move it, the box was empty. Now, I padlock the two privacy fence gates from the inside, put padlocks on the yard shed and the small Christmas decoration shed. I lock the main shed, but still, occasionally I find the chicken coop has been messed with. I have recently put game cameras in the yard. I hate to live in a fortress, but that is the world I live in.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

You could barter with these 2 kids. Tell them to mow your yard, clean the chicken pen, feed the dog, go pick up a can of WD-40 at the local hardware store, etc...... and if they do work like these, you will let them visit and feed your chickens as 'payment'. Oh, you can also tell them to scrub your toilet too and perhaps change the brakes on your car. You get the idea.

 

[Chickassan]

Sorry, i'd have and would continue to only have the most pants crapping GTFO ever to enter the poor childrens ears.
Good intentions or not.

 

[gtaus]

...12 isn’t so young to not understand coming onto another’s property isn’t acceptable. My guess the parents or lack of parenting is to blame. These same parents would most likely sue you should an injury occur on your property....

I appreciate your concerns. I don't know if these kids were 12 years old, but definitely pre-teens. I live on an old lakeside resort, and the families that come to visit in the summer have cabins that they have owned for 50+ years in their families. By tradition, the kids have always been allowed to run and explore around the area. Generations of kids have been coming to my 3 acre plot and catching frogs in the small creek that runs through my property and empties into the lake. Earlier in the spring, they might catch some fish spawning. Later in the summer, they might find some turtles. And now, they come to visit my chickens in our back yard. It's all good to me.

I also realize that some of these parents need a vacation too. The other day, one of the mothers was out on my swing set I have for the kids. She looked like she was having a bad day. I got a chance to talk to her a few days later and asked he if she enjoyed the "swing therapy." She really opened up to me and stated that she was fed up with the kids in their blended family, and was on the verge of packing up the car and going back home by herself. But just getting away and doing a little "swing therapy" was enough for her to reconsider her options, calm down a bit, and gather her strength to face the kids for another day. She ended up staying the entire 2 weeks with the family.

As much as the kids need their vacation time, I know some of these parents are dealing with issues too. So, anything I have that makes their lives just a little less stressful while on their vacation, they are free to enjoy it. I know 2 of the mothers just like to come and sit by the chicken run and watch the chickens. We have a nice conversation when they visit and I can tell they too just need a little time away from the stress of their lives. Chicken TV is good for us all.

No one has ever been injured on my property in 30+ years I have lived here, but I do carry a very good insurance policy to protect me and my wife. You never know what can happen and it's best to protect yourself for those unseen problems. I think that is good advice for everybody.

 

[gtaus]

I LOVE IT!

Yes, very funny sign. I printed it out on paper, laminated it in plastic, and put it on a wood sign which I hung out on the fence. Very nice.

 

[StaffordshireLady]

You could barter with these 2 kids. Tell them to mow your yard, clean the chicken pen, feed the dog, go pick up a can of WD-40 at the local hardware store, etc...... and if they do work like these, you will let them visit and feed your chickens as 'payment'. Oh, you can also tell them to scrub your toilet too and perhaps change the brakes on your car. You get the idea.

Oh! dear!!

 

[MROO]

I live on what was once a lakeside resort. For 9 months of the year, there are only 5 of us who live out here, and most of them are older than me. So, not much to worry about there. Most of the families that vacation here in northern Minnesota where I live come around the 4th of July. The visiting children that came over and got into the chicken run are leaving tomorrow morning and will be gone for another year. They visited the other day and stayed out of the chicken run and were more than happy to hand feed the chickens with some bread and scratch feed I let them have for the visit. So happy endings there. Chicks are safe, children had a good time, everyone had a nice vacation at the lake and are now going back home.

I was not aware that savvy raccoons could open a carabiner. Most of my doors on the coop have 2 points of locks, so I think it would take a very smart raccoon, or a very smart family of raccoons to get both locks undone. In any case, I do plan on getting padlocks for the coop and have them in place next year before the kids arrive. I have already posted some humorous signs about not letting the chickens out, so I think the padlocks will just reinforce the point that they can easily understand.

A new sign for you:
"Please do not feed the baby dinosaurs until cleared by the Head Keeper!"

 

[gtaus]

You could barter with these 2 kids. Tell them to mow your yard, clean the chicken pen, feed the dog, go pick up a can of WD-40 at the local hardware store, etc...... and if they do work like these, you will let them visit and feed your chickens as 'payment'. Oh, you can also tell them to scrub your toilet too and perhaps change the brakes on your car. You get the idea.

Very funny! I have 3 acres of lot to mow, and it takes me about 4 days on my riding mowers to get the job done as I break it up into sections. When I get done with the last section, it's time to start over on the first.

I don't know about cleaning the toilets and such, but I know some of these kids would probably enjoy helping with the chicken chores. As most of you know, my chicken chores take me all of about 5 minutes per day, and that includes 3 minutes walking back and forth to the back yard. So mostly I just enjoy the chickens.

 

[gtaus]

Sorry, i'd have and would continue to only have the most pants crapping GTFO ever to enter the poor childrens ears. Good intentions or not.

Ouch! That sounds rough and I don't even know what GTFO means! I don't blame anyone for protecting their backyard flocks. My approach may be just different, but it worked for me. In the end, the children had a good time, I had a good time watching the children have a good time, and the chicks got some treats so they too had a good time. It all ended well. Thanks for the response.

 

[gtaus]

A new sign for you:
"Please do not feed the baby dinosaurs until cleared by the Head Keeper!"

Thank you for the suggestion. I do have a few dinosaur signs I have considered printing out and posting. Tell me if you like....

I think they are funny, but I don't know if many people would get the joke...