Are Chickens Considered A Threat?

[so lucky]

Reading the thread about the neighbor's pit bull getting the guineas kind of got me to wondering if a neighbor would have the right to kill a chicken that was on their property pecking and scratching around. My chickens free range in the afternoons, and usually go into my neighbor's field, and down to the pond. The field is planted in soybeans right now. I don't see the chickens doing much damage, but the farmer may see things a little differently. The 4 chickens cover about a 2 acre area. I don't think I need to worry, but.......??

 

[seedcorn]

Probably not chickens but geese when it is planted till half grown, yes. Amazing how much one goose will destroy.

Dogs in corn can cause a decent amount of damage as well.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Dogs in corn can cause a decent amount of damage as well.

That's another reason I fenced my garden, not just for the deer. The neighbor's dog got into my fall green peas that were looking great. I'd just weeded and hoed them. That dog dug in that fresh dirt and wiped them out.

I have no idea about how your neighbor would react to chickens in his soybeans. Some people are looking for an excuse. It doesn't really matter how much damage they actually do. Some are quite tolerant.

 

[catjac1975]

I think we all need to control our animals. Having the "right to kill the chickens" or not is meaningless if they just don't come home one day.

 

[bj taylor]

i would probably talk to him and ask him if it's a problem for him. if he's unhappy about it, then i think it's up to you to keep your animals off his property whether they're actually doing damage or not.

 

[baymule]

Your neighbor might like the bug patrol your girls are doing. Then.....maybe not. You just need to ask, good communication and good fences make good neighbors. I would think more along the line of how vulnerable they would be to predators. You can take precautions on your own property, but you can't do that on someone else's property.

 

[so lucky]

I appreciate all the input. I guess I will have to go talk with him. Altho, this is the farmer who sprayed my garden with Round-up, so I figure I need to mention that, too.

 

[canesisters]

Take a dozen eggs when you go.

 

[Nyboy]

I appreciate all the input. I guess I will have to go talk with him. Altho, this is the farmer who sprayed my garden with Round-up, so I figure I need to mention that, too.

I hope it was a mistake, and he was sorry.

 

[so lucky]

I appreciate all the input. I guess I will have to go talk with him. Altho, this is the farmer who sprayed my garden with Round-up, so I figure I need to mention that, too.

I hope it was a mistake, and he was sorry.

It was wind blown over to my garden (about 10 feet away) so yes, it was an accident. I haven't told them about it yet. I keep hoping my tomatoes and zinnias will perk up, but they look pretty sad. The rest of the stuff will make it, I think.

Oh, and Cane, they do love to get my fresh eggs!