poachedegg Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 (edited) Just a bit of a rant - next door neighbour on one side has just knoocked on door to say a chicken had escaped and were out the front of the cul de sac - however it was my neighbours chickens on the other side of us. They have only had them a few months and this is at least 6 times, that I have knocked on to let them know they have escaped, never mind when we haven't been here. This time I just literally knocked on the front door and said 'chickens are out' and walked back to ours - they just frustrate me so much! We live on a new build estate and our houses back onto a little woodland and then a road - they have a 6ft fence panel missing with the veneer of a door across it sideways (ie about 3ft high), which this morning had been knocked over - their 2 chickens are left to freerange and the side gate also gets left open. It is fortunate that so far they have always escaped out the front onto a quiet cul de sac and not the back. They are the daughters pets (21 and an eternal hippy!), who has always professed to be such an animal lover, but can't seem to do the basics! .....deep breath and relax! Edited January 3, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerbluebadger Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Perhaps you should make a polite suggestion to them and say that they need to make sure their fences are up so that their girls are not eaten by a fox? Or!! in the dead of night you could steal them and add them to your flock and say you got them as a present? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Blimey...how careless. At least the fox will come for them before yours I suppose....but that isn't much comfort. I dare hardy ask if they are properly looked after in other respects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Sounds like she's pretty irresponsible . Perhaps you should quietly "adopt" the chicken and see if she even notices . If she carries on that like she'll be lucky not to lose them to a fox or a car . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted January 3, 2009 Author Share Posted January 3, 2009 If she carries on that like she'll be lucky not to lose them to a fox or a car . The way they are going one or the other is looking inevitable! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Pop over tomorrow to say you saw a fox in the garden. Hopefully that'll scare them into doing something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted January 3, 2009 Author Share Posted January 3, 2009 Unfortunately whatever I said would go over their heads - how many times of an animal escaping should it take for any responsible person to ensure their security? It annoys me that as I live next door to them that, inadvertently, I am involved in their irresponsibility! We have done the research, spent time and money in forming the correct environment, spend copious of time doing supervised freeranging - and in your own little world you presume that others are doing the same too - obviously not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Hi IMO I don't think they are serious enough about hen keeping! Perhaps if given the option of rehoming their hens they may decide to remove themselves of the responsibility of looking after them. I'm sure that somebody out there will be happy to take them in. Kit btw are you Brian & Carol's friend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted January 4, 2009 Author Share Posted January 4, 2009 btw are you Brian & Carol's friend? Yes that's me - am I infamous!? I agree with you, I don't think they can be that serious - however they also probably do not see that there is anything wrong in what they are doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Sounds like she's pretty irresponsible . Perhaps you should quietly "adopt" the chicken and see if she even notices . If she carries on that like she'll be lucky not to lose them to a fox or a car . best idea, me thinks, bet they wouldn't motice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faye&Ant Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Sounds like she's pretty irresponsible . Perhaps you should quietly "adopt" the chicken and see if she even notices . If she carries on that like she'll be lucky not to lose them to a fox or a car . best idea, me thinks, bet they wouldn't motice I agree that sounds like a great idea but that ultimately lies with you. What a shame, she doesnt sound very responsible and it makes you wonder if she cant be bothered to keep them safe, is she feeding and keeping them looked after properly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emily95 Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 she doesn't sound responsible at all! I agree with Faye&Ant .... who knows how these poor chooks are being kept! Emily x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuggywoo Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 They are the daughters pets (21 and an eternal hippy!), who has always professed to be such an animal lover, but can't seem to do the basics. Perhaps if you showed them this Animal Welfare Act They have a Duty of Care... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 You must be so frustrated , how can people be so blase about animal care Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia7455 Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 I can see that it's frustrating, but I wonder if a different approach would work better with them. It looks to me as if the neighbours have had the chickens foisted on to them by their daughter who has left them to cope with them. Perhaps if someone knocked on the door without getting their backs up by expressing annoyance, and offered some help - because perhaps the neighbours are struggling to look after them and don't like to say. This might be better for chickens and neighbourly relations in the long run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfred Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 So called 'animal lovers' are always the worst! Maybe ring the RSPCA and see if they can come round and inspect? Might just get the message across! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia7455 Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 I wouldn't have any hesitation in ringing the RSPCA, but only after I was sure there was nothing I could do to help the next doors. They might be in a mess and just need a bit of neighbourly support to get them and their chickens back on track. I am sure that poached egg has been down the helpful route though. IT sounds as if the problem has been going on for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted January 5, 2009 Author Share Posted January 5, 2009 Don't want to come across as uncaring and unneighbourly (but obviously I'm going to!) - but they don't need any help - they need to maybe have done some proper research and get off their backsides.........incidentally the daughter whose chickens they are, is studying animal care or zoo care or something like that at a specialist equine college in Cheshire. There is a history of whatever they do being half hearted/bodged - so there isn't a lot of goodwill coming from my side - however when they got the chickens and 'rescued' them the first couple of times, it was done to help them as there was a common interest....but I am only willing to do so much, when they can't be bothered (because thats what it boils down to) to do some very basic things. (Ordinarily I am a nice person really.......honest. ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 I think you should call the RSPCA, how would you feel if something happened to them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia7455 Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Sorry if I came across as having pre-judged you, I hadn't really, just trying to help. I would be worried if I knew of animals that were not being looked after properly. It's a difficult one, because they are next door. I think you have got three options: 1. Call the RSPCA, you being sure they are irresponsible and are not looking after their pets properly. 2. Give them a warning - go round in a non confrontational way, maybe with another neighbour, and ask them in a friendly way if they are having problems looking after their pets because you have noticed that they escape, are not being cleaned out - or whatever. Asking them if there is any reason why they can't look after the pets properly. Say that you think the pets should be being looked after better. Depending on their reaction, hopefully you will know what to do next - call RSPCA or suggest what help they need. 3. Do nothing and try and ignore what's happening. I think I would do the second one. I hope the situation gets better soon and that the chickens will soon be safe and well with the minimum of unpleasantness for you. Best wishes Patricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted January 5, 2009 Author Share Posted January 5, 2009 I think you should call the RSPCA, how would you feel if something happened to them? I am not going to feel guilty for somebody else's lack of responsibility. I have 3 children and husband who runs his own busy business, a dog (not long had surgery), 5 chickens ,4 guinea pigs and a house to run. The person responsible for these chickens is 21 and goes to college (sometimes) to study about animals, lives with mother and siblings, does not work. Our children and our animals are all looked after/loved/cared for exceptionally well.......so in answer to your question "how would you feel if something happened to them?" - then my answer would be - the same as it is now - that these people are irresponsible and any consequences of their lack of security is down to them and their conscience. ETA Am feeling rather miffed that the responsibility for these chickens is being put back on me and the inference is that if I do not contact the RSPCA, then I am as bad as my neighbours. I do not know about their day to day living standards, only that due to the gate sometimes being left open they escape and the back garden is not secure either (if they are left out to freerange). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 I didn't meant to infer you're responsible for their fate. I just thought how I'd feel if something happened to them and I didn't do anything to prevent it. Of course they are responsible but indirectly, we're all responsible for the welfare of animals that we know are being mistreated or rather being put in harms way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia7455 Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 I agree with Poet, that we are indirectly responsible for the welfare of animals we see being put in harm's way. Sorry that you are feeling miffed about what some people have put in their responses, I think that everyone is wanting to help in their own way. If the chickens escaping is causing you repeated hassle I think it would probably be easier in the long run to try and help the neighbours to contain them - they or you could go on Freecycle and ask for a trellis or fence panel, which you could give to them as a friendly gesture and say: Could you please try to keep your gate shut so the chicks don't get out the front? I am afraid they might come to harm. I can't see how they could grumble over that, and it would save you from having to bother any more, hopefully. I am not trying to be annoying, just caring about your situation. Best wishes Patricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted January 5, 2009 Author Share Posted January 5, 2009 I know you are not trying to be annoying, however I have lived next door to my neighbours for 8 years and know that offering them a fence panel etc etc would not make any difference - their fence panel is out because they chose to take it out as a cut through because they were too lazy to walk around. When I have knocked on to let them know that their chickens were out (one time I had to take them right into the garden myself as no one was in), they say I don't know how they get out and I tell them the gate being wide open doesn't help. Given who the neighbours are and their history and personalities, then I have done more than could have been expected of me in letting them know each time they have got free - they have been very fortunate that I am around during the day, as many others aren't. Thank you for your replies and input, I think we are obviously not going to agree on our view points - but then that's life. I would probably have a different view point if they didn't live next door and I didn't know what they were like and I didn't have to ensure the security of my own animals - but I do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia7455 Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Oh, dear that's really awful. It must be horrible living next door to people as unhelpful as that. No wonder you're fed up with it. Ideally, I suppose, someone (apart from yourself) could find them next time they escape, and take them to a rescue centre instead of giving them back. I would feel very tempted to. Then the owners would have to improve their security if they wanted the chickens back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
