What do the neighbors have that I don't?

[megg0728]

I am having a hard time keeping my flock out of the neighbors yard.. we have 7 acres of land to explore, and yet they want to visit the neighbor.. we had a barbed wire fence up on this section of the property. And we just put up new horse fencing today in hopes of keeping them in our yard. We have been slowly upgrading our fences. Our back and front pastures are fence with the new stuff, but the middle pasture where the chickens are is in progress. Our only problem with the fence we put up today is we couldn't go all the way to the end post because we have a creek that runs under our fence. If we put the new fencing over it, it would get clogged up with leave and sticks etc.. so there is small section that is still just barbed wire. Well, my girls went around our new fancy fence, threw the small section of woods, and right back into the neighbors yard! They aren't even scared of the neighbors dog... any advice on how to keep them in my yard without going broke? They won't even come to me for treats when they are over there..

 

[CluckerFamily]

I would keep them in the run or make the run larger if the fencing isn’t working out.

 

[tripletfeb]

Do your neighbors have any issues with your chickens in their yard? I'm all for keeping one's animals in their own yards but if your neighbors don't mind, that would give you leeway to figure out more ways to keep them contained. Can you put a fence higher over the creek? Still fencing over it but high enough where sticks and leaves won't get caught, but low enough where your chickens can't sneak under?

 

[RubelliteRose]

Unfortunately no advice to keep them in your yard, but we were able to train our chickens to come running when they hear a song (my daughter chose the Chicken Dance song) They would often ignore us when we called, so we started playing the song every time we gave them mealworms and now they sprint to us when they hear the first notes of the music.

 

[megg0728]

The neighbors dog has gotten loose and gotten in our yard bothering our chickens and horses. So my husband feels like we shouldn't allow our chickens in the neighbors yard when we have complained about the dog getting loose in our yard. As far as the fence idea I will run that by my husband and see what he thinks. We only have a 10X10 dog pen we use as the run. I would like for the hens to have more room to forage and eat up ticks etc during the summer. My husband wants me to find a new home for my instigating hen, the leader of all the trouble lol she leads everyone else into trouble...

 

[tripletfeb]

If you did rehome her, another hen would just take her place as the instigator. Good luck, hope the fence works for you!

 

[megg0728]

Unfortunately no advice to keep them in your yard, but we were able to train our chickens to come running when they hear a song (my daughter chose the Chicken Dance song) They would often ignore us when we called, so we started playing the song every time we gave them mealworms and now they sprint to us when they hear the first notes of the music.

Love this idea! Thanks

 

[chickens45]

I have the same issue! Mine always head straight to the neighbors, who complain. I have to literally stand and babysit them when I let them out is their run to make sure they don’t go there. We have tons of property too and for some reason they head straight to the neighbors

 

[Flat Earth]

I free Range all my chickens And I have yet to understand why they hop the fence?! None neighbors talk to me, i think they are safe for now?

Could it be they want the clover that is in there yard?

 

[Flat Earth]

Do your neighbors have any issues with your chickens in their yard? I'm all for keeping one's animals in their own yards but if your neighbors don't mind, that would give you leeway to figure out more ways to keep them contained. Can you put a fence higher over the creek? Still fencing over it but high enough where sticks and leaves won't get caught, but low enough where your chickens can't sneak under?

If they can see the grass on the other side, they are going there.