to wonder what has happened to behaviour?

[Arohaitis]

I have just caught my neighbour trying to steal my chicken!
Went down the garden and saw my neighbour standing right by my fence with her 3 year old kind of throwing something into my garden calling out to my chicken. Then I heard her say to her son 'see if you can get her to come over here and stay with us'
I mean really my neighbour is late 30's early 40's, probably has a degree, certainly has a very well paid job (i.e. well over 50K) normal, non sociopathic, average kind of neighbour. The kind of person you find 20 of in every suburban street. I can't imagine there are any animal welfare concerns since she is quite happy to ask us to feed her chickens when she is away. We live in a middle class small town high employment relatively privileged area. People move here for the 'niceness'
(sorry I'm not trying to sound cocky just trying to emphasise the average nice suburban nature of our suburb)
What is going through her mind? Does she think we won't notice our chicken in her garden? Does she really believe she can just take someone else's things if she wants them?

So that's it really what hope is there for society when (kind of) middle aged middle class people think they can just take what they want from their neighbours encouraging their 3 year old to help themselves at the same time?

So AIBU

[HowContraryMary]

you have one chicken? She has more?

Bloody obvious isn't it? Your chicken is lonely so shes inviting it on a play date.

[almondcake]

I would try that then OP. Get another one and see if shestops her chicken coaxing.

[Glitterfeet]

My first thought was the same as whathaveiforgotten.

[Whathaveiforgottentoday]

could she have been joking around with her 3 year old?

[Arohaitis]

lol Saucy!!!
tea on keyboard now

[Arohaitis]

we currently have one chicken since the other one died, we are trying to decide whether to get some more now or wait a bit (and actually were going to get another one but it fell through)


Topaz thoroughly depressing isn't it?

[SaucyJack]

Dunno about hens- but your neighbour sounds like a cock to me.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Id assume she was just playing about with her 3 year old and you took her too literally.

[almondcake]

If I live next door to you (and I do have chickens) I would be thinking, why has my neighbour, knowing full well I have chickens, gone and got ONE chicken, that will have to look sadly at the others through the fence as it lives its life in solitary confinement. They are sociable birds, and they can't bond with humans like a dog can, even if you call it Ruby.

But I would not mention it, or try to liberate lonely Ruby. I can still see an over sensitive person with few boundaries might attempt to encourage it away, however ridiculous this may well be. I think that is the most plausible explanation for your neighbour's odd behaviour.

If you buy a second chicken, she may stop.

[Topaz25]

We would love to have chickens but live in a crap area where thugs break into the local allotments and steal chickens (and tools and everything else that isn't nailed down). I don't know if it is reassuring or disappointing to find out this sort of thing happens in nice areas as well.

[pigsDOfly]

Well obviously the chicken needs a mobile Worral otherwise how is the OP going to call it in for its supper when it goes to play next door.

I kept having to check what I was reading here. Would a 3 year old really play with a chicken, make more sense if it was a kitten, don't chicken peck. My DM used to keep chickens when I was a child and I remember them as nasty buggers. Wouldn't have dreamed of playing with them. Or maybe chickens were more feral in my day.

Sounds to me like she was definitely trying to steal it.

[Arohaitis]

I know her salary because I know her job very well

I was going to say the phone thing too but this is a serious thread!!

I heard her say stay myself

I dream about setting up some internet computer photo thingy to catch any thieves didn't think it would be for the neighbour

[ComradePlexiglass]

Is Ruby very different to her chickens? Could she have thought that Ruby was one of her own chickens who had escaped into your garden?

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

If you are that close you know those things cant uou ask her what she was doing?

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

How do you know her salary? Just curious.

[almondcake]

If you have only one chicken and it lives right by a flock of chickens, its instinct would be to join the flock. Why your neighbour is involving herself I do not know.

I don't think it is indicative of a general increase in livestock rustling.

[BringBackBod]

I'm also wondering if your DH misheard her too.
Maybe she said "play" not "stay .

[CabbagesAndKings]

If she has her own chickens she doesn't need to feed yours. make sure your fences are all very strong to stop crazy chicken thief luring your solitary chook over

[WorraLiberty]

Have you tried ringing yours?

Fucking hell!

So even chickens have mobile phones these days?

[Imnotmadeofeyes]

Sorry!

Does owning livestock give you farmers rights? You could invest in a shot gun (no ammo, I'm not barbaric) and just stand there staring at her with it cocked over your arm?

Channel a bit of 'the hills have eyes'

[Imnotmadeofeyes]

Doe

[Edendance]

Maybe she said 'play' rather than 'stay'...!

[Topaz25]

She shouldn't be feeding your chicken without your permission or trying to encourage it over to her garden. I'd tighten up security. Can you reinforce the fence or coop or move the coop closer to your house? Just seeing that might put her off but if asked you can always blame foxes. Or politely mention that you saw her son feeding and trying to play with your chicken and you'd prefer that he plays with her chickens and your chicken stays in your garden. That might get the message across without mentioning theft.

[rabbitlady]

perhaps she thinks your chicken would be happier if it had friends to live with.

why are you all keeping chickens anyway?

[Arohaitis]

oh Susan they are cute cute cute this one is called Ruby