We have a fence but the neighbor wants to have free range chickens and they just do not want to stay home so they fly over the fence. When the chicken house blew down in the snow storm and he did not put it up for a week, they found my bird feeders and water and decided to move over the fence and roost in our barns and trees. They began to eat the wild bird seed and cracked corn. They are not stupid. He is the stupid one. Now he is complaining he can not get them to come home. I told him to keep putting scratch food on his side of the fence and give them extra stuff from the house scraps to entice them back. I even feed them on his side of the fence and they still will not go home, since their home is now taken over by the rooster and one hen. That is the story Tom and I am reluctant to get angry with him since he is a new neighbor and I am trying to be a good person. My patience is just about at the end and if that happens, all you know what will break loose.

I wonder if shooting at them with an air gun would work? Wouldn't hurt them and might encourage them to stay on their own side of the fence. I used to sling-shoot pebbles at an offensive neighbor dog who was confused about boundary lines, and it eventually worked. I never hit him, just made a racket around him.

And perhaps ask if the neighbor could clip their wings a bit shorter. How tall is the fence, and is it board or wire?

If he really wants to re-establish their home base, he will need to lock them up for a couple of weeks or more, to get them to accept their new home. Once they feel safe and have a good food supply there, they will go back there to sleep. They will still most likely visit your yard in search of things to eat.

I know, Tom, but this city boy does not take suggestions from either male or female. He is one of these know it all people. In the meantime, I worry the hens are getting the proper nutrition since I am not feeding them any good laying mash which he is but only in the hen house and they do not go there.

The fence is 5 ft. and I thought of clipping their wings before I throw them back over the fence. I am determined to put them over if only I was younger I would not need help, but now, if I bend over to pick one up I could fall on my face. I am usually off balance because of the vertigo and I must be careful not to fall on a good day, much less a day I decide to chase chickens.

How determined are you? A fish landing net will allow you to scoop them up without bending.

I am 86 and do many weird things for my age, but I know my kids would really wonder if I used a fish net. I actually use my bird net that I used when I bred parrots. They are not much bigger than a medium size parrot , just fatter. I'll get the suckers one way or the other...I am one determined old bat.

well if you are in city limits simply call animal control? Aren't there rules about keeping them in town? I would think he would have to keep them on his property.

They are adjoining farms. No laws for chickens. No big deal. I will fix it. Thanks.

Go, Jacquie, go!

Plate of Chicken anyone?

Hatched 17 so far, mostly Blue Laced Red Wyndottes some cross breeds. I put food on the paper plates for them to learn how to eat, and a bunch of them cuddled onto the plate to sleep. Funny.

Too funny!

tveguy3 said:Plate of Chicken anyone?

Hatched 17 so far, mostly Blue Laced Red Wyndottes some cross breeds. I put food on the paper plates for them to learn how to eat, and a bunch of them cuddled onto the plate to sleep. Funny.

Silly chicks! But so very cute.

Neighbor's troublesome chickens on your property? I have a recipe somewhere here if you want?

I can't do that .....they just need to keep them home.

When it gets on your property clip a wing so it can't fly over the fence again then send it home

dave719 said:When it gets on your property clip a wing so it can't fly over the fence again then send it home

Be sure to use a coagulant. Birds can bleed out easily. Syptic powder usually works well for chickens. Trimming primary feathers works well but only until the new feathers grow in the following season. I trim the primary feathers on one wing. Best to not do either without experience or a good teacher.

There are videos on line that show how to do it safely.

homeshow said:

Be sure to use a coagulant. Birds can bleed out easily. Syptic powder usually works well for chickens. Trimming primary feathers works well but only until the new feathers grow in the following season. I trim the primary feathers on one wing. Best to not do either without experience or a good teacher.

I clip my parrots all the time. Now I have a girl who comes and does it since I lost my one eye. I do not want to miss clip. I have never done a chicken but it would be only a temporary solution. I need a full time solution. He just refused to build them an enclosure and they live here since the winter when he left their house lay on its side after a storm took it down. Now they lay eggs on the stones in my barn. Poor chickens need some TLC.

they are yours now. do what you want with them. Soup is good food.