Marauding Chickens

[oldtimer]

My neighbour's free range chickens keep foraging in my garden. Like the neighbours, they are friendly and sociable creatures but I shoo them out because they leave calling cards, frighten the goldfish and trample on the flowers.
I get on well with the neighbours and don't wish to cause any unecessary friction. As a supporter of the free-range ethos and homesteading generally I seek advice.

1 Should I complain and threaten to shoot and roast the next one I catch in my garden?
2 Take it as just a normal part of country life and fence off my prize plants?
3 See the positive side. eg chicken manure may help the plants?
4 Extend my knowledge of chickens. eg do chickens eat slugs? Are they likely to lay eggs in my garden?

Any helpful suggestions welcome, or failing that, good chicken based recipes.

 

[ozzy1977]

Number 1 would be my option, just beacuse your in the cou tryside doesnt mean you have to put up with everything.

 

[Nice65]

Your neighbour should contain them really. Be nice and maybe get some free eggs?

 

[santaman2000]

I'd start with option 5. Have a talk with the neighbor but be polite. See where it goes from there.

 

[GGTBod]

I'd be up for a roasting, the neighbour and the chicken if a polite request did not get the desired reaction.

On a side note the title of the thread painted a good comedy image of the worst biker gang ever in my mind

 

[Macaroon]

Best bit of advice I ever got about fencing was that you fence your ground to keep unwanted stock out; if you do that properly all other functions of fencing follow automatically

Chicken manure will certainly help your plants, but not fresh from the little feathery factories, it needs to mature and be "made".

On the plus side they do eat slugs and if made to feel welcome will lay eggs; whether you find them or not is another matter!

 

[Countryman]

Get a dog. Let it have the run of your garden. Chickens aren't smart but their Risk Assessment's are usually on the money.


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[xylaria]

Laying hens have really lousy meat. They take an age to cook.

I would go with polite word better fence, and ferrets.

 

[British Red]

I would certainly have words. I would find the phrase "how would you like to compensate me?" works quite well. Its also worth keeping your neighbour appraised of issues. For example, my land has a problem with rabbits. I WILL be trapping and shooting on my land. Neighbours understand that if they don't choose to keep their pets off my land, then its on them if them pet gets hurt in a Fenn trap etc.

Letting their chickens onto your land is not "free range" - its poor stock management. Off course don't fall out with them - but of they cause damage, they should make that good.

 

[Haggis]

It is simply impolite to allow one's livestock to annoy one's neighbors. I wouldn't be backwards in reminding my neighbors of their faux pas in neighborly relations,,,

If the reminder fails, chicken stew is quite good,,,

 

[oldtimer]

Determined sortie led by Attila the Hen enabled her assault group to penetrate my defences through an unnoticed gap in the far end of the hedge. A diversionary squad of Hens Angels kept me occupied while Attila and her section got into the house through the kitchen door. She flew quite a distance when I caught her carping on the living room carpet and launched her over the fence and was last seen running for the river bank.

Neighbour, ex-military type, knew new strategy was needed after my own shock squad (SWMBO in full cry) arrived and has bought and installed razorwire on his boundary. Machine gun nests now installed on mine. Sunday lunch yesterday was chicken.

Diplomatic relationships with neighbour at armistice stage to be restored in full pending him buying me a pint when the pub opens.

 

[treadlightly]

Enjoy the pint as much as I enjoyed your story...

 

[GGTBod]

Cheers fir the chuckle, under assault references very apt

 

[Harvestman]

Nice one. I hope the razor wire anbd machine gun nest were at the neighbour's expense, although it was the image of your wife (who I'm sure is a delightful lady) in full cry that brought a smile to my face.

 

[david1]