Unsecure chicken perches

[newcountrygirl]

I'm not sure what to do - my dilemma is we have a three acre garden with two fishing lakes. As the garden is so big and there are lots of bushes and trees on the perimeter we cant really put any fencing. Our next door neighbours have three young boys. Up to now we havent had any problems but just before Xmas they acquired 6 chickens.

 

They let the chickens out every day and they have suddenly started wandering into our garden. Today - I looked out of the window and saw two of the youngsters in my garden along with 4 chickens.

 

My own chickens are only allowed to free range when i can be with them in the garden. My problem is twofold - the first thing is that when I go up the garden my Border Terrier is often with me. If she sees a loose chicken she will chase and kill it. The second problem is that I am terrified one of the kids will end up in one of the lakes.

 

Not long after we moved in I spotted one of the kids about 5 metres from the edge of the lake. I went round and spoke to his grandmother who said she would make sure they didnt come in again. I am not sure what else to do

 

Walked up our fields this morning and guess what? The neighbours have put a stretch of fencing up where the biggest gaps were. Ok - so it is that horrible orange Builder type net but at least they made an effort!!

Edited March 4, 2013 by Guest

[Janepie33]

Maybe you should pop round and reiterate your concerns either verbally or in a letter. Your concerns sound perfectly reasonable to me.

[Daphne]

I would also go around again and tell the family very politely that you are concerned for the safety of their chooks and children. I would certainly point out that you don't let your own chickens FR unless you are with them, and that one of the reasons is the natural hunting/chasing behaviour of your BT. I don't suppose they have given it a thought - it doesn't have to be confrontational, you will just be pointing out a danger and I'm sure they will be grateful for this. If nothing else, you do need to tell them in case the awful occurs and the birds are loose on your land when your BT is out.

 

Mind you, I'm not sure exactly how relaxed I would be seeing a neighbours family in my garden in the first place.....

[newcountrygirl]

Thanks for the comments. It is a bit annoying to see people in your garden. I did go round last week when I noticed the chickens in the garden the first time. I spoke to the grandmother (the kids are living in a static caravan with their parents in the garden) supposedly while the house is being done up. She assured me she would try not to let it happen again.

 

The worst thing is that there are three young boys and the youngest one is only 4. I am terrified of walking up to the lake and finding him floating in it. They seem to run wild in their garden - which like ours is three acres which is great for kids but not when you arent keeping an eye on them.

 

My grandkids come to stay and i would never let the youngest who is 4 go up there on his own or even with his sister who is 10. I always go with them cos you just never know. You only have to take your eyes off them for a minute and they could be in.

 

I am going to go round again and speak to them I think.

[bluekarin]

That is a worry. I to would go round and stress why you are worried. Can't make your day relaxing if you are now worried about what might happen. Maybe they thought you wouldn't mind the chickens coming into your garden as you have some yourself? Then again, there is the worry the two flocks could fight! Hope it goes well.

[Chucky Mama]

I would find the issue with the children and the lake a really stressful one. In your position I am not entirely sure how I would tackle it. Perhaps I would go and express concerns again to the neighbour. I would certainly ask whether the boys could all swim and whether she has talked to them about what to do if one of them were to fall into the water. Not an nice situation to be in. Re the chickens I would tell them that you have seen a fox around and that your dog is not to be trusted with chickens and may chase or kill them. You don't really want your dog stressed by strange children running around the garden either

[newcountrygirl]

I know Chuckymama - part of the problem is that it is such a long stretch of boundary. there are lots of hedges and trees but also lots of gaps too. It is a very small village and i dont want to be at loggerheads with anyone. I am a Parish Councillor too.

 

Last week they kept having bonfires and when I walked up the field there was loads of bits of half burnt paper, old birthday cards etc which had obviously blown over as well as some polystyrene in the first lake.

 

I am going to have to go round again and re-iterate the points i made last week. Not looking forward to it at all.

[Grandmashazzie]

Good luck with your neighbours.Although they do not seem to have set their children any boundaries,ie don't go in the neighbours garden.It brings to mind the saying good fencing makes good neighbours.Although you have a big boundary you might have to start plugging the gaps with that is it chestnut paling? And planting some quick growing prickly hedgerow shrubs which will keep them on there own side.It is annoying when you are trying to live in peace in your rural village to have some unthinking family start making you stressed out.

[newcountrygirl]

thanks grandmashazzie. Me and OH were talking about it earlier. Think we are going to put some sort of fencing up.

[Charlottechicken]

I really think, like has been mentioned previously, that you are going to have to secure your boundaries. It sounds like they just won't get the message otherwise. My friend also has a couple of acres for a garden (including a couple of streams) and I have noticed in places where the hedging is thin, there is strong wire fencing attached to wooden fence posts, around the whole plot. This was obviously put there before the hedging grew up though.

[The Dogmother]

I would find the issue with the children and the lake a really stressful one. In your position I am not entirely sure how I would tackle it. Perhaps I would go and express concerns again to the neighbour. I would certainly ask whether the boys could all swim and whether she has talked to them about what to do if one of them were to fall into the water. Not an nice situation to be in. Re the chickens I would tell them that you have seen a fox around and that your dog is not to be trusted with chickens and may chase or kill them. You don't really want your dog stressed by strange children running around the garden either

 

I totally agree.

 

Personally I'd see if I could get some stock fencing up, at least on that side - explain first to the neighbours, stressing your concern for the safety of their children and their flock. Mention that while your dog is friendly, he isn't stock trained, so can't be held accountable for any chicken deaths.

 

Is it possible to use some chain link fencing to provide your hens with a large roaming area, which is more contained? Chickens are notoriously stupid when it comes to water and they sink rather than swimming, so I wouldn't be happy with my lot near a pond or lake.

 

Good luck with sorting it out.

[Redwing]

I would try to fence as cheaply as possible. Chestnut palings, stock fencing and stakes or even a couple of strands of electric fencing tape (not necessarily connected) would work, maybe even some cheap rolls of chicken wire attached to the existing bushes would do it, Hills of Devon sell cheap rolls of this

 

I would also re-iterate your point to the neighbours of course

[newcountrygirl]

I have been looking into getting some chicken wire 3ft high should do it I think. Its just a bit of a deterrent. I am still going to go see them again though. As for my chickens - they are in another part of the garden much nearer the house, they have a walk in run and are only let out when i can be with them - like this morning. There have been sitings of a big dog fox so I only let them out when i can be with them. They never stray far from the run and like to be near me when I am working in the garden.