When your neighbors flock freerange on your property

[Trux]

Here in the USA, the owner of the animal is responsible for keeping it contained. Especially in rural or urban neighborhoods where other people are affected by their neighbors roaming animals. The owner can have their animals taken away and be fined. As they should be. I repeat, nobody has the right to let their animals roam onto someone else's property.

There are areas in the Western US where livestock is allowed to free range, and if you injure an animal or hit it with a car, you are responsible for restitution to the owner. These areas are marked with road signs btw and are usually on 2 lane roads. So yes, unless you fence your property in these areas they can roam your property

 

[Kris5902]

There are areas in the Western US where livestock is allowed to free range, and if you injure an animal or hit it with a car, you are responsible for restitution to the owner. These areas are marked with road signs btw and are usually on 2 lane roads. So yes, unless you fence your property in these areas they can roam your property

Good fences make for good neighbors!

 

[tripletfeb]

There are areas in the Western US where livestock is allowed to free range, and if you injure an animal or hit it with a car, you are responsible for restitution to the owner. These areas are marked with road signs btw and are usually on 2 lane roads. So yes, unless you fence your property in these areas they can roam your property

I live in Ohio so I was referencing the eastern USA I guess! I did not know it was different out west but that makes sense. More open land and more livestock. I would think in the cities it would be the animal owners job to have a fence. Regardless, I agree that a nice talk with the neighbor is in order first. If nothing is resolved then I personally would not hesitate to call on them.

 

[Kris5902]

I live in Ohio so I was referencing the eastern USA I guess! I did not know it was different out west but that makes sense. More open land and more livestock. I would think in the cities it would be the animal owners job to have a fence. Regardless, I agree that a nice talk with the neighbor is in order first. If nothing is resolved then I personally would not hesitate to call on them.

Yes, in the cities here you have to keep your animals in a securely fenced yard, and on leash in public places, unless it is a specific off leash area. The city I lived in before I moved to our farm (New Westminster)... if you even tied your dog up outside the Starbucks while you run in for a latte and a bylaw enforcement officer came by, it would be seized for being “at large” and you would face fines. It varies from place to place for sure. Also to have any chickens or bees they had to be something ridiculous like 150 feet in from your property line so It was basically impossible.

I’d chat with them nicely first, then check the local laws, and proceed from there. Let’s hope the “please keep your birds on your property, because they are inconveniencing me greatly” is as far as it needs to go, it usually is! Most chicken people are nice (or so I’ve noticed here!)

 

[bobbi-j]

I agree with the others - start by talking with the owners. If that doesn't work, call animal control or whatever passes for it in your area. If still no action, I'm afraid I'd be tempted to start picking them off and putting them in my freezer. A more peaceful (although more expensive) solution would be to fence in your property. Should you have to do that? No. But it may be the only way to keep the chickens out if all other measures fail.

 

[PirateGirl]

I agree that you should look into the laws first. Depending on your zoning/location the laws may say that it is your responsibility to keep the livestock of others off your property, this is known as a "fence out" law and it protects the rights of permitted ranchers to free-range their animals in open range states/areas. In some regions it is the opposite and it is the responsibility of the animal/livestock owner to "fence in" their animals and prohibit them from roaming. There also may be town or HOA ordinances that override these regulations as well, for example I live in Colorado which is a "fence out" state, but because I live within town limits and zoned residential (not agricultural) I am required to fully fence in my chickens and free ranging fowl is prohibited.

 

[Mrs. K]

One can use a powerful squirt gun, a few times of that, and they will often go somewhere else. If you are persistent, it will last for some time. It does take time to build a fence.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Tell the owners that their chickens are coming onto your property and harassing your dogs and the next time it happens they will be shot.
It would be fun to flip the script on what the usual situation is.

 

[centrarchid]

OP posted only once, has not responded, nor even visited site since starting thread. Maybe it is not good to invest too much in discussing this beyond general terms.

 

[briankelli59]

Wow! Here in Canada it’s the property owners responsibility to fence their property, and until that is done they have no legal recourse if someone else’s animals graze it... I believe this is also the case in most commonwealth counties (UK & AUS).

We free range our cattle and sometimes sheep on our property, occasionally some neighbors, and our national parkland... if you encounter a herd of livestock on a roadway, they have right of way and you can be fined for interfering with them.We also have the right to kill any animal harassing our livestock, pet or otherwise.

It is different in cities and for domestic pets like dogs, but chickens are clearly classed as livestock, especially a large flock. I find it interesting the different farm and livestock regulations between Canada and the USA.

That said, I think that a simple non confrontational conversation with the owner would be where I would start. Most people are reasonable neighbors. Then I would fence my own property first. Once my property was fenced... winner, winner, chicken dinner! They were damaging my grass that I use for my own chickens.

Our sheep occasionally wander down through other properties to the beach on the west end of our island. If people complain we come get them, and we don’t even try to charge anyone for our complimentary lawn care services... they just got a free mow and fertilizer! Most don’t mind too much.

Why should I have to absorb the expense of fencing my property to keep other people's livestock out? That makes no sense whatsoever! If you own livestock it should be you that absorbs the expense of keeping them on your property and this "free range" crap should not be allowed. Why should I have to deal with the messes your animals leave behind in my yard? Why should I have to pay vet bills for my dog when your animals feces makes her sick? I don't understand why you people think we should bear some of the cost of you raising your animals when you reap all the benefits???