I wish I knew what was going to happen to these girls. They have become a part of my daily life and at 88 there are not too many things I can get interested in. LOL

As far as I am concerned, they are now your chickens. Do whatever you like to be able to enjoy them.

By not treating them properly, he has lost them. I'd keep them if you enjoy them, or give them to your friend.

maybe you could check with your local county or city animal control and see what your actual legal options are if you don't think you and your neighbor can come to any agreeable terms.

I called animal control on my last neighbor over his pit bulls, friendly dogs but hated my lawn mower.
in the end when one finally did jump the fence and start chewing on my mower wheels I opened my gate and let it run free.

Jared, how are your chicks doing? We need a photo update, please?

Hi there!

Sorry, I have been extremely busy so I havent been able to post lately. As for the update, give me a second to get pictures.

Jared

Hi there!

Okay, here is the update. 6 weeks old, and they are doing absolutely fantastic! I moved them out of the brooder to the coop because they were getting big and fully feathered !They are actually getting big. so big, that I need a new feeder for them! I got a one quart feeder and I have to change it once or twice a day now! They are still running to me whenever I come in the coop as if to say, "HI! What do you got for me today?" They are so adorable! Here is a picture!



Jared

They look great, Jared! Enjoy them.

They get big so fast, don't they?

My goodness Jared, those chicks are so big already. They look great.

Hi!

Thanks! They have gotten pretty big pretty fast. This actually has a possible problem, two problems actually. I wanted to ask about them.

First, they are big, so big that they havent been trying to fly or jump as much. They havent been using the roosting bar I put in only 8 inches off the ground. Its as if they are too heavy to fly or jump. Is this a problem?

Second, I tried to let them outside today because it was nice warm weather. I TRIED. They do not want to go outside, and when I put them outside, they run inside instantly. Maybe its just that they are nervous. How do I get them used to outside the coop? They have never been out there.

Any help will be greatly appreciated

Jared

I find chickens to be quite curious. If you leave them an open door to the outside world, eventually they will venture out and once they figure out there are bugs, worms, and greens to eat, they will go in and out at will.

When my hens were younger, they would often huddle up together inside the nesting box at night. They eventually got over that and now all roost on the branches I've provided for them. They do tend to squish all together, I suppose to share body heat. My guess is eventually they will figure that out as well.

Funny critters.

Yep, they will go by instinct when they are ready, they may seem large but they are still young and the roosting thing will come.

Hi Everyone,

Update, I have a very cute predator alert!



They have been trying to get in the chicken run, but they havent been successful, fortunately.

Thats all!

Jared

My dog (boxer mix) was quite interested in the chicks when they were young - she spent most of her time parked outside the fence drooling. Once the chicks got to about teenage size (couple months old), she lost interest and now she absolutely ignores them. Same with the neighbor dog (lab). I did have a small massacre (2 grown hens) from a pup visiting next door, which was sad. The owner kept offering to buy me new chickens but I figure it's just how it is - I've lost hens to coyotes as well. Haven't decided if I'll replace them or just roll with my remaining 6 hens.

My dogs are definitely chicken predators and are fenced out of the chicken pasture. They have occasionally caught a fly-over pullet - with mixed results.

I am writing this today because not only am I extremely angry, but I am thoroughly disgusted with people who just will not accept advice of others who know what they are doing.

The chicken neighbor came over to get his chickens three days ago because he was not getting any eggs. I fed and watered and kept them safe all winter....now he wants his chickens. My SIL waited until dark and he got a ladder and went up in the rafters of the barn and one at a time collected the chickens and took them back home to their hen house. He has been told we do not want them chased and terrorized during the day because he can't catch them that way. He said he was going to fix the problem. HE CLIPPED BOTH THEIR WINGS COMPLETELY. NOT JUST ONE WING, NOT JUST FLIGHT FEATHERS..WHICH WE DO WITH EXOTICS. Now they can't get away from predators for sure.

Next day, they were back again and he came over to chase them home with his son.. I ask him politely to leave the farm because he was not chasing them during the day. He got very nasty with me and I told him again, politely to get off the property. He said something smart and I told him I was not afraid of him and he was to leave NOW. He knew then I was not going to back down and he said he was not afraid of me either. (I almost had to laugh because he is a big guy and I am 4 ft. 10 inches and 150 lb plus I am 88 years old.Is he crazy? Why would he fear me?) He left. SIL got the chickens after dark again and one at a time took them home.

Yesterday (next day) chickens were back. I called my daughter and told her and now the games begin. She is used to dealing with horse, farm, people and sometimes she must get firm and tell them they must comply or else. She is a big lady with a firm but kind voice but she is tough and will not back down when doing her job. So she came home and told him this is it.
He knew she was not to be messed with and he said he would put up another fence. He now has a wire fence about a foot off the ground next to our fence covering only 1/3 of the fence.
The chickens can still get over the fence if they take their daily walk behind his barn to the meadow. They can also fly over the fence at the pony's paddock. He is being a real problem and the law is not specific enough for us to find a way to legally stop him. As long as he stays on his property. SIL had a nasty unproductive phone conversation with him and still the man will not build a pen because HE WANTS RANGE CHICKENS. We are just too nice I guess.
He is a very nasty person.

So sorry you have to deal with this kind of neighbor JB!

Thank you . I am only concerned about the health and care of the chickens. He can go fly a kite but the chickens are not being cared for properly. And this is the second time he has done this,

Hello.

@JB, I had an experience like this when I bred rabbits, what I did YOU can do also. I am not a felon, but I have some experience with the law.

You said, "My SIL waited until dark and he got a ladder and went up in the rafters of the barn and one at a time collected the chickens and took them back home to their hen house." I assume this means he went on your property at night without permission? If this is correct, you DO have a Legal Leg to stand on.

Here is what happened to me, I had a rabbit while I lived in Post Falls, ID. A man came by and broke into the rabbit hutch, to take care of the rabbit because, "I was abusing it by not feeding it and not cleaning it." This was NOT true. I called Post Falls Police for advice, and when I told them the story of what happened, They said that man was guilty of breaking and entering, they sent an officer to our house and we explained the situation. He went to the mans house and firmly told him he was NOT to come on my property anymore.

My advice is to do what I did. Call your towns Police Department and explain the WHOLE situation. Explain what is going on and explain to them that he is going on your property without permission at night. Explain the whole story.

If he does go on your property without permission, tell them this, and more than likely they can talk to him about breaking and entering and they will tell him NEVER to do it again. If he cant control his chickens going onto your property, Animal Control might get involved with him also.

Send me a tree mail if you want to talk to me further.

Jared