AndyRoo Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 So I went out to let the girls our into the 'free ranging' area - which is covered by the Omlet netting to discover that the netting had all been bent out of shape as if someone had tried to climb over it. I know it wasn't natural sagging of the net, because I mowed the lawn yesterday and every time I do that, I readjust all the poles so it's nice and taught again. My guess was they knocked their ball over the fence and came to collect it and couldn't figure out how to get in to the netting. We have a standing agreement with our neighbours that the kids can come and retrieve balls etc. at their leisure. I wouldn't have been too annoyed but then I noticed someone had cut through parts of the netting!! I know it wasn't a fox chewing its way through because they were clean, unfrayed cuts which could have only been cut by a knife or scissors! Now I am beginning to wonder if they tried to climb over, couldn't, and then cut the net!! I didn't see them do it, so I don't know for sure, but I am really P.O.'d and I don't know whether to go and say something to the neighbours or not! *scream* And scene... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 Oh dear. If you have a 'standing agreement' for them to come in, then I guess it's not surprising that they may have tried to climb over the netting - cutting it is definitely not on. At this time of year it's a daily routine for me to check the garden and lob various cricket balls back over the fence, but I wouldn't be very happy if my neighbours' children came in and helped themselves, however you've clearly got a good relationship with yours. Unfortunately I can see the sort of scenario that may play out - you complain, they deny that they cut it, and you don't get any further but everyone is upset. Maybe a polite word to the effect that the netting is set up to keep the hens safe, so if they need to fetch a ball and it's inside the netting, please would they consider it 'out of bounds' and leave it till you get back? Alternatively, of course, you could politely warn them that you have started to electrify the netting so would they please not touch it in future ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted July 17, 2017 Share Posted July 17, 2017 Alternatively, of course, you could politely warn them that you have started to electrify the netting so would they please not touch it in future ... OOOhhh yes Nice one Olly! Esp if you warn that you cannot be responsible for any injuries etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoo Posted July 17, 2017 Author Share Posted July 17, 2017 I might just go one further and get an electrified fence and not tell them. That'll learn 'em! Rich thought that maybe a fox had done it, but I'd imagine the netting would have looked chewed and frayed - these were clean cuts. We have no objection to the kids coming in and getting their stuff back, but I am a bit narked about the netting being cut. I might go round and just casually ask if they've seen anyone other than Rich and I in the garden because some vandal had come in and trashed the netting. Not accusing anyone, just wanted to know... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 Would they have come into the garden armed with scissors? The Omlet netting has steel threads through it, so is hard to cut. My neighbours have moved out now, but had a couple of football mad small boys; they would regularly kick the ball over, then bunk over the fence, trample over the borders and retrieve the ball after chasing the chooks about for a bit of fun - saw this one day when I was WFH. I told them that any balls would be returned at the end of the day, and that if they came into my garden again, then no balls would be returned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 That is damage to property - go & have a word! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoo Posted July 18, 2017 Author Share Posted July 18, 2017 Would they have come into the garden armed with scissors? The Omlet netting has steel threads through it, so is hard to cut. I think they must have changed the composition of it because I just went out and checked and there isn't a single metal thread through it - or if there is it's microscopic. It looks like it's 100% nylon or something else similar. I tried snipping through one of the cords which had been cut already with a pair of scissors and I'm confident that my 4 year old nephew could cut though it without much effort at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoo Posted July 18, 2017 Author Share Posted July 18, 2017 That is damage to property - go & have a word! I am tempted; I just don't want to fall out about it in case I am wrong. There is absolutely no way it wasn't cut with something sharp, though; it definitely wasn't pulled apart through stretching or anything like that - it was a clean cut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 Would they have come into the garden armed with scissors? The Omlet netting has steel threads through it, so is hard to cut. I think they must have changed the composition of it because I just went out and checked and there isn't a single metal thread through it - or if there is it's microscopic. It looks like it's 100% nylon or something else similar. I tried snipping through one of the cords which had been cut already with a pair of scissors and I'm confident that my 4 year old nephew could cut though it without much effort at all. Must've changed then - it used to have a fine steel thread so that it could be electrified. As Sarah has said, damage to property is a criminal offence, but your approach is key here - I had to be very tactful with my neighbours - I would pop round to ask the parents if they had noticed anyone in your garden, who oughtn't to be as you'd had some damage to the netting, which was expensive. Take them round some eggs and ask them to keep an eye out, saying that you are rigging up a webcam in an upstairs window to keep an eye out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoo Posted July 18, 2017 Author Share Posted July 18, 2017 [As Sarah has said, damage to property is a criminal offence, but your approach is key here - I had to be very tactful with my neighbours - I would pop round to ask the parents if they had noticed anyone in your garden, who oughtn't to be as you'd had some damage to the netting, which was expensive. Take them round some eggs and ask them to keep an eye out, saying that you are rigging up a webcam in an upstairs window to keep an eye out I did think about setting up a chicken cam just for laughs - maybe I should do that anyway. Although I am tempted just to buy some electrified bird netting and not warn them. *zap* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 You could just install a guard cockerel. My Jarvis Cockerel was a beast - no one would go near! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoo Posted July 18, 2017 Author Share Posted July 18, 2017 You could just install a guard cockerel.My Jarvis Cockerel was a beast - no one would go near! I'm afraid after a couple of morning's crowing the rooster would end up on either my own or one of the neighbours' barbecues! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m1tch+ Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 if the neighbours are decent folk they should take on board that you arent throwing accusations around but could they at least ask the kids if it was them, and if it was not to do it again. Saying that theres nothing worse than trying to explain something to irrational parents who think their kids do no wrong, could get heated very quickly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
