When your neighbors flock freerange on your property

[jcarender]

Hi, I am new here and I am in need of advice on how to handle my neighbors free range chickens. She has a large flock and her property is not fenced in. I have a small flock, but I do not have a fence, so I keep mine pinned up. This week her chickens are free ranging in my yard. They are scratching all the new mulch out of my flower beds, and digging up my flower bulbs. Also, her roosters are crowing under my bed room window very early in the morning. My husband and other neighbor works nights so they sleep during the day. Tonight my other neighbor asked me if I knew how to keep the large flock neighbors chickens out of his yard. I told him I have the same problem. They are pooping on my porch and scratching up all my flowers. I told him I had to put up make shift fences around all my flower beds, and trees that have bulbs around them. He said you should not have to do that, so we are looking for advice on how to nicely handle this problem with the neighbor who has the large flock of chickens. Help, I do not have time to run chickens out of my yard all day, and it really does not help anyway.

 

[cavemanrich]

My suggestion is for you and other neighbor approach the large flock owner and discuss as adults. Maybe that person sees nothing wrong,,,,,, in that case you could contact authorities with your concerns.
Always best to discuss things first with owner to come up with a solution.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and

 

[SniperGoose]

I agree with going to the flock owner first and talking it over. They might not realize the trouble the chickens are causing everyone. Hopefully that does the trick. Since they free range their flock, I'd also remind them of the dangers of free ranging. Their chickens will slowly get picked off by predators, or hit by vehicles, etc. If that doesn't phase the owner and they continue to let them go wherever, then I'd be contacting some officials about it. There's no reason you, or any of your other neighbors should have to deal with this trouble the owner is causing you.

 

[tripletfeb]

You have received good advice so far. Hopefully your neighbor can keep their chickens in their yard. Nobody has the right to let their animals roam. Good luck and keep us updated please!

 

[Ribh]

Your neighbour may be unaware you mind about her chickens so talk to them first.

I talked to my neighbours before getting our chooks. We are only semi rural so our neighbours are close & I knew I might not always be able to contain them. I have great neighbours! One has trained their dog to herd any escapees back into our yard & they dislike the yappy dogs on the other side, but good neighbours should be considerate of each other.

 

[Kris5902]

I totally agree that a discussion with the large free range flock owner should be a priority, hopefully they will be considerate and take measures to contain their animals.

Nobody has the right to let their animals roam.

Unfortunately this is not correct in most areas when it comes to livestock. I don’t know for sure about the USA’s laws on this though... Ranging animals on public or private lands is usually a protected right. Livestock has right of way, even if they venture into the highways. Also in most areas there isn’t any requirement for the owner to contain a livestock animal to their own property.

It’s usually a private property owners responsibility to fence their property to prevent a neighbors livestock from entering it, and only if they damage a fence to enter your property can you really complain.

That being said most people do fence their livestock in on their own property, and it’s only neighborly to do so. I hope your neighbor is reasonable and you can come to a resolution in this...

 

[tripletfeb]

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.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Think of a few solutions before you talk with them. Be prepared to compromise. Educate them about bio security and the spread of disease.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Check what your local laws require.
You & the other neighbor should together visit and talk to the free ranging neighbor.
You could fence your property or areas that you want protected, although chickens can dig under fences & go through fencing.
Get a dog & train to herd the visiting flock home.
Trap the chickens that come on your property, have chicken dinner or sell them on CL.
Get a sling shot or air gun, target practice.

 

[Kris5902]

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.

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.