What The Heck Was My Neighbor's Rooster Doing?

[Scrambled Egg]

Quote:
I would bet on both in this case. Do you have a pan of water you can set out at least keep the poor thing from dehydrating? Negligent neighbors, grrrrrrr

Yes, I do. Of course, I don't want to encourage him about coming into my neighbor's yard. But it gets so hot here and I really don't like to see animals suffer.

He was a really beautiful, very large rooster.

I'd call someone but I am afraid that the authorities would just pass a law banning the keeping of all poultry if I complained.

That is a real fear I have too with complaining about anything in my neighborhood, that my chickens will be targets. I am within ordinance but I would not want to draw attention to them so I do understand your situation. Maybe the roo will re-home himself to your house and you can just keep him. Hope this story has a happy ending!

 

[deb1]

Here is an update on the rooster. Yesterday evening my hubby and I took a walk around our property. We saw the rooster again, at my neighbor's coop. The first thing my husband commented on was that the rooster wasn't as pretty as I had informed him.

We got closer and the rooster stood up, extended his wings and lowered his head a bit. He was not a very friendly creature.

But what worried me was that he seemed to be hurt. He had blood down the front of his chest.

So, my hubby and I decided to explain the situation to the owners. I was determined that they opened the door.

They have a privacy fence that surronds two third of thier poperty, so I can't normally see their land.

I was surprised as we walked around the fence to see how overgrown and trashy everything was. They have several free ranging birds-which doesn't bother me- but the birds can get off their land. They also have a boer goat tied to a chain.

A little tiny dog was chained on a small concrete slab under their porch. I am not antichaining dogs because we are slowly putting in our own fence and my dog is on a long lead until it gets up. But this dog was on a tiny leash that he couldn't get on the grass with.

So anyway, I knocked and knocked and knocked. I also told my husband loudly that I knew that they were inside.

Finally, a woman came to the door. At first her english was bad and I despaired of making her understand. Then I changed tactics and told her that I was getting some chicks. She perked up and her english improved. She asked for a description of the rooster and I gave her one. She told me that her husband would get the bird.

I am at a loss as to what else to do. If I take the rooster-who doesn't seem all that keen on my help- I could probably get in trouble. If I call the law, a chicken ordinance might be passed that forbids me keeping birds. But if I don't do anything, the rooster suffers, her animals suffer and someone might complain anyway.

I feel a bit hopeless in the situation.

 

[oandrea]

I know you said you are afraid that your town will ban poultry but seriously if the animals are being neglected they really need to be reported. I don't think this one incident will cause the banning of poultry.

I hope their animals aren't suffering too bad. With this awful heat we are all having to endure this summer. It breaks my heart thinking of all the neglected ones.

 

[Miltonchix]

Quote:
If a new law is passed you SHOULD BE grandfathered. Because you already LEGALLY own birds, any law passed would only mean you could not get any new birds. UNLESS a provision is included to round up and confiscate those birds that people already have. Not very likely.
You need to call animal control though. If you get nowhere that way call the health department. It sounds like the conditions could be a potential health risk to the entire neighborhood. (whether it really is or not, thats all the health dept. needs to hear)