Once again, I turn to the vast knowledge and wisdom of my DG friends....
I live out in the country and love the fact that my girls (chickens) are able to roam all over my yard and acreage, but several times a day, they run over to my next door neighbor's house, which is a significant distance away, to gobble up the birdseed that has fallen from the birdfeeder, and while there, they get into their newly grass seeded areas, scratching and making a mess, and destroying my neighbors hard work. Not to mention, getting up on their new deck just to see what Mary and Louie are doing inside the house. ....My neighbors are the most sweetest people in the world and have been very gracious about my chickens' curiosity. Nevertheless, as a good neighbor, it is my responsibility to keep my chickens out of their yard and off their deck.
My question to you all is:
Without putting up a costly fence between our houses, and without making them live in a pen, does anyone know what I can do to keep my chickens in my yard??? Do you know of any chemical barriers, or have any other suggestions that have worked for you?
Bless you all, as usual, I deeply appreciate any input and help you can give.
~:> Glenda - a.k.a. the owner of "chickens gone wild!"
HELP! How do I keep free-rangers out of neighbor's yard?
I do not have any Because I have the same peroblem..LOLOLO.
Some times I have to run and get them back in to the yard with
their own food and put them in a coop fenced in area..
They will get the idea and they like to rome free and I would pay for any thing that would happen to any one yard...
Tracey
Hhmmmmm. I can't offer any ideas how to keep them from going there, short of penning them up.
But...........I can tell you, from your neighbors view, you'll have to figure out something if you still want to be on good terms with them.
My neighbor on the acreage behind us has guineas that free range. They come over to our yard every day. I see them in my flower beds and garden and just cringe.
I like my neighbors well and hesitate to say anything. But all the while, I can't help but be resentful after I've worked hard and invested money in my yard.
I have chickens, but don't let them free range because I don't want them in my flower beds and garden.
I'm so sorry to be a wet blanket................... but I'm sure you are concerned and want to be a good neighbor. That's quite evident by your post. At least you realize there is a problem. I think my neighbor thinks he is doing me a good deed by letting the guineas clean up the bugs in my yard. LOL. He's a good guy. But when he sends me a statement for services....... I might get enough nerve to say something. Haha.
Good luck, I hope it all works out for you., .... and your girlies gone wild.
Tell them to use the hose. When my girls go somewhere I do not want them to go I use the hose sprayer. It may take a few times but they learn if they go there they get wet.
Two wire electric fence. One 4" above the ground and the next 10". Keeps out the bad guys and the little darlings in. You can have it run on a battery or 110 or even solar.
Richard
You will have to build a run area where the chickens spend most of their day. Open the run for a few hours before bed time then they won't have enough time to get to the neighbors. I have over 90 hens and sometimes mine make it to the mean neighbors house but most of the time they stay home, since they only have 2 hours of hunting time.
All good ideas! There are motion-sensor sprinklers you can buy from various garden places, and that will train the most hellbent hen.
Glenda I do not have chickens but saw this thread and wanted to pop in and say what a good neighbor you are!! :)
I live in a neighborhood with specific rules against farm animals. Nonetheless, my 2 neighbors whom I really really like decided to get some chickens. Our lots are only an acre each so they would 'visit' quite often. Since we have dogs and they do need to go outside to 'do their business' you can imagine my frustration. Luckily my problem was solved by the neighborhood and my neighbors had to find their chickens a new home.
Anyway, I just wanted to say it's an absolute delight to read someone is concerned about others, as it seems in todays world things always seem to be the other way around.
:)
Nicole
Not to ruffle any feathers (I TRULY HOPE) but IMHO they should be penned in some way, protecting them will solve alot of problems from the get go. I have gone the trailer route so they can have limited & protected outdoor access that can be moved daily.
With everything that is going on in the world today, species going extinct, global warming, the die off of bee's, letting them free range is going to attract a hawk or some kind of bird of prey and then you are going to be in conflict and its not the bird of prey's fault. And not doubt they will loose the battle which just does not seem fair to me. As an owner its my responsibilty to keep them save if a predator gets one its MY FAULT and NO I do not get to use some lame excuse like I have ADT or IBS or MS or anything else - MY responisiblity. Anyone else remeber this "OLD SCHOOL" concept?
Will you appreciate and respect the Bird of Prey's terrority as well as your neighbors? I truly hope so.
Nadine
A goose or two with your chickens behine your electric fence will stop anything that flies!!
Thank you, everyone, for your kind input! I appreciate each of your ideas and any other suggestions that I may yet get. Zeppy and Farmgirl21, your suggestions of the sprinkler/hose seem to be the easiest to try without spending hundreds of dollars. It's worth a shot, right? Keep your fingers crossed for me! ;)
Thank you PeggyK and ncgardenaddict, yes, my parents taught me to respect other people's property and to not allow (my) problem to become someone else's problem. I was taught to accept and acknowledge responsibility. So, if I can't persuade my chickens to stay in my yard I will be looking at building a pen or chicken tractor for them, despite the fact that they LOVE the freedom to roam as they were created to do. That is really my only other option as far as I can tell right now. But PLEASE if anyone else has more suggestions, please let me know! You never know when a stroke of genius will be the "perfect" fix. :)
MQN, I truly appreciate you wanting to help and I do believe you are sincere about your concerns and viewpoints. Please do not take my reply as me having my "feathers ruffled" because they are not in any way, shape or form. You posted your thoughts and I am simply taking a moment to post mine - not debate this issue. You and I hold very different viewpoints on some of what you mentioned. For example, I do not believe that today's global warming is factual. Conditions on the earth are cyclical. Besides, I am old enough to remember back in the 70's when the same people sounding the alarm about global warming today, were saying the same thing about the imminent "ice age" that was going to destroy the earth. I want proof before I swallow something as fact. I am also old enough to know that there is BIG money to be made in "fear". William James (1842-1910), considered by some to be the father of modern psychology, said "There is nothing so absurd but if you repeat it often enough people will believe it." I believe that today's "the sky is falling, the sky is falling - global warming" is a perfect example of that point.
People have had chickens for thousands of years and been responsible for their care. A responsibility that I take seriously. But I also accept the fact that the course of life and death happens - for each of us, including animals. I am not at "odds" with that fact; I am at peace with doing what is reasonable. A simple application of common sense is what is needed. The Bible tell us in Proverbs that "A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal..." The Scriptures are where I draw my knowledge of right and wrong, good and evil, what I should do and should not do, and how I should treat and care for my fellow man and the animals God has put in my charge. There is where I find sweet peace.
Thanks again everyone! You're the best!
Glenda
Glenda , Bless Your Heart! All of us Chicken Parents have had this delema at one time or another! I found that the "Tractor" is the best and most inexpensive way to control where our chickens go! Plus they are moveable so your chicks can be in a different spot , whenever you feel the need to give them fresh "pickens"! We have several threads here on the Chicken Tractor Subject. Looks to me that that would save your chickens and good neighbor relations! Good Luck.
Eufaula, thanks, I think you're right. That does seem to be the "ticket", giving me the best of both worlds. :) I will start researching chicken tractors and see what I can find. That way I can (take my girls with me) wherever I am working in the yard and still be able to enjoy them. They ARE such a hoot to watch! I've seen some really cool ones on The City Chicken, but I do need the tractor to be light enough for me to move around by myself. ....If you know of any good links for chicken tractors, I'd sure appreciate you sending them my way. Once I get it made and working, I'll post a picture of my girls in their new "safe area". ;) Thanks a bunch Eufaula!! ~~ Glenda
Glenda we have several threads here on this forum all about our different tractors and sites you can pull up! Go back through our old threads here and check it out! You will be amazed at all the choices and Ingenuity!!!
Glenda, besides all the internet resources, there's an excellent book on chicken tractors that includes just about everything you'd want to know, even how to build one. It's called "The Chicken Tractor."
Awesome! I will go back through the old threads, and find the book The Chicken Tractor. Maybe Amazon will have it. Surely I'll find something. I talked to my neighbor, Louie, this morning and told him that I was going to build a chicken tractor to keep the girls out of his yard. I also told him that some of my friends on DG suggested squirting the girls with a garden hose. Louie said, "Well, if you want, I'll just grab the hose when they come over and squirt them." I said, "Wonderful, and I'll keep an eye on them and when they head to your house I'll chase after them and squirt them too. Maybe between the two of us, we can actually train them to stay out of your yard." He said, "Sure, it's at least worth a try." .....He and Mary are such wonderful neighbors. We love them dearly and they have become "family" to us. Either way, we'll get the girls out of his hair (which is funny because Louie is bald) and keep them from peaking in their patio door. ~:>
Thanks a bunch! Consider yourselves hugged!! ;)
~~ Glenda
Ah, yes ! A chicken tractor ! Perfect idea. Good luck Glenda. You are such a nice neighbor.....you can move in next to me anytime. :))
And eggs. Lots and lots of fresh eggs for the neighbors as a little appeasement tithe! They should be getting 6-12 eggs from you every weekend! :) That way they have pretty, fresh eggs and if one gets out every once in a while, they can look at them more fondly :)
My chickens do the exact same thing, but luckily, my next door neighbors have chickens, too, so they don't mind.
Also, what about planting some shrubs, or making a stone wall? We have a scrubby "no man's land" type area between our two houses and the girls primarily like to hang out there, in the shade, and are less likely to go over.
I'd also agree with the semi-free range idea. My girls stay in their pen when I'm not home and when I get home and let them run around, they stay closer, as they have less time before dark.
I'd also train them to come when you call. It is so helpful. ( If you haven't already done that.) How I did it is I have a little pail of chicken scratch, or treats, and I call HERE chick chick chick chick, HERE chick chick chick , come here girls, and shake the pail and as soon as they come, or even beforehand, I start putting it on the ground. I throw a little up in the air, dramatically, so the chickens far away see it. THey come RUNNING to get the same food they always have ( not so bright, them gals). Now they come even when I don't have treats, and often when I don't even call them! LOL!
That's hysterical! I can picture you throwing their treats/food up in the air... I do have my girls trained to come, but it's interesting, they think that I am a rooster so if I'm out in the yard they kinds of follow me around. The way I (know) that they think I am a rooster is because when I bend down to pet them, they go into "the position", if you catch my drift. I always laugh and tell them, "Sorry girl; you're tough out of luck."
Yesterday and today, Louie and I have been squirting them with the hose the couple of times they've wandered over to his house. It appears to be working - they HATE getting squirted, and make a beeline for my yard. I even filled up a squirt bottle that has a steady hard stream of water setting on it, and I carry it with me. Whenever they head that way and I'm close I just go over and squirt them. Again, they head right back home. Works like a dream and they don't just run 8 feet, stop, and stare at me like they do if I just try to shooo them. .....When we got home this evening, as soon as I stepped out of the car, all the girls came running to me. My DH just laughs.....
Thanks PeggyK! You're sweet to say that. I appreciate your kindness. :)
Can you imagine what it would be like if all of us "chicken lovers" did live in the same area!? ...What a hoot that would be! ;)
Yep. They'd call it Arkansas. LOL. I always remember when we drive thru Arkansas, there are always a lot of big chicken houses. When I was young, I thought all chickens came from Springdale, Ark.. hehe.
Nah, if we all lived close, we'd make us up a club...........and have even more fun ! You could be president. then we'd have to get us a secretary and vice pres. and of course a treasurer. We could all get together and build tractors, go scavaging for chicken coop building materials, trade eggs............. whoooo hoo ! Sounds like fun to me.
Whhooooooowheeeee!!! Now that would be fun!!! We Could exchange stories ,like the first time we stepped in Chicken Poo with Bare feet as Children!!!!! Now dont say you didnt ,we all know we All have at least one story!!!!
Lets see, squished between the toes!!!! Wouldnt come off! Smell that wont go away even after washing! Poor old Rover, Never had clean water ,cause we would use his bowl or trough for cleaning feet!!! LOL and Memories!!!! Come on ya'LL !!!
Well, there are about 70 acres of scrubby overgrown fields behind my house for sale! Come on up!We could have a chicken lovers subdivision!
You'd love life in NH. We don't have any chicken ordinances, and since my town has a population of about 2,500 it wouldn't take many of us to become a powerful voting block!
I say, two weeks off every spring for chick time!
And a parade in the fall, where we could crown a King and Queen of the flock!
How about putting up a bird feeder in your own yard? If I were a chicken, and I had a choice, why would I go all the way over to the neighbors when there's bird seed right here?
I feed my chickens some bird seed. Their favorite is millet. They always pick that out first. I'm going to grow some in my garden this summer.
I am curious, I will be getting some cornish crosses at the end of the month, if they get into my garden will they ruin the plants when they scratch around looking for bugs?
That is very likely. They may eat your plants, too, depending on what the plants are.
Last spring I planted a whole bunch of plants in the yard, and my girls followed right behind me, rearranging my soil and digging the plants right back up. The girls are so helpful.
I raise Atlantic Giant pumpkins, I have problems with cucumber beetles in the garden, was thinking chickens would love that meal. I can cover the pumpkins themselves, just wasnt sure if the plants would get pecked in the process.
Probably not. We had a Cushaw come up right outside the pen and when we let the chicks out in the evening, they totally ignored the plant. We covered the plant right at first because I was worried about the same thing, but it seems they don't really like squash or pumpkin plants.
Hope this helps
Thank you Granny
You're welcome. :o))
They do love pumpkins, though, so you might want to keep the actual fruits covered!
Pumpkinfreak, how large do you grow your pumpkins. We tried to grow pumpkins here but had absolutely no luck. Our ground is what people in this neck of the woods call blow sand. It is the kind you find in kids sand boxes. Have trouble growing anything most of the time.
Granny my largest pumpkin that I have grown was 842.5 pounds. My goal is to grow a larger one this season.
That's a whole lotta pies. And, yes I know they aren't for pies. Might make a jack-o-lantern tho. hehehe
They make great boats though Granny lol They float very well.
Gee, never thought of that. LOL
Granny what else do you grow in your garden?
Oh, tomatoes, cukes, rhubarb, asparagus, other types of squash, and all sorts of stuff. Whatever takes our fancy at the moment.
Do you can Green Beans at all? Or make spagetti sauce? I love trying new recipes.
No, I freeze green beans, and don't make spaghetti sauce because I don't really care for it. Have you ever tried making "dilly green beans"? It's a recipe out of the "Ball Blue Book". I get most of my recipes out of that book. And, of course, "Taste of Home" online magazine.