Chickens!!

[marmaladeslade]

Very random, but I am not a fan of chickens . I mean they are yummy but I don't like them in my backyard all day. I especially don't like opening my back door and having 6 of them staring at me. I kind of push my way through them. If I go to my shed they run at me as they think there is food there. I know it's sooky, but they aren't mine and I just don't want them in my garden. Do you think it's ok to ask my neighbour to keep them in her property?

That's hilarious, I have visions of them in little rocking chairs with their knitting needles out and joined by @GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER 's cat......but then I love hens, had them myself for quite a few years.

Op, they are only running to you because they see human and think what treats are they bringing me. If you ignore them and walk slowly past them rather than shooing them away (which to them probably resembles you sprinkling food around) they will learn that they get no treats from you (rubbish human😂) and begin to ignore you🐔

Once caught ds showing his chicken Keith round our house.. Those Ladies enlightened our lives immensely op. Give them a chance! This was my favourite Edwina!

A chicken that wandered onto my property would soon find itself plucked, stuffed and roasted. Like the OP says they are "yummy" so just see this as an opportunity for a few free meals. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. (Or something.)

No, chicken lockdown was lifted weeks ago.

Chickens are brilliant but the husbandry is far more difficult than people think. Endlessly trying to stop red mite gets old really fast, then there's mink, foxes, buzzards, the neighbours collie.

There' nothing like watching chickens scratch about on freshly turned earth or an opened compost heap though.

We have seven chickens and I would be absolutely mortified if they got into our neighbours’ gardens!!

I've lived in the countryside all my life - you don't let your hens wander around on other people's property unless they've said it's ok. Does she think you've said it's ok with you because you just let it happen? She might of course be taking advantage of your naivety because she knows you're a townie. I think it's very odd that you haven't asked her to keep them out of your garden. I'm assuming you're in UK but might be wrong.

Don't your dogs go after them?
My cocker spaniel would have my chickens if he could (having caught one he just holds it in his mouth and guards it - he is now kept well away).
Local cats on the other hand steer well clear of the chickens.

Your neighbour is definitely being unreasonable.

No not UK. And I just sort of thought "oh well they might just wander around a bit occasionally " but they seems to like my place more than hers. The mesh between the fences is all bowed because of her horses leaning on it so that's how they get through. I will have a word. I'm not keen to pick them up , and throw them over the fence, anyway they would just come back. Hopefully she will fix the fence or get a pen. It's only been a few months she's had them , so I was hoping they would sort it but it seems not.
I keep my dogs inside and in a separate section on the other side of the yard that is fenced properly. The chickens haven't got in there yet. Good luck to them if they do. Would not be pretty! They aren't trained to protect chickens and chase birds for fun sometimes - never catch anything , birds fly away, but a chicken well that might not do so well.
Thanks for letting me know I'm not being unreasonable!

OP I am in the exactly the same situation. I have chickens that have a lovely large pen. But my neighbours think their chicks can run wild. I have had to put fence around the veg plot as they trashed all my hard work last year. I have 2 neighbours either side with free roaming chicks. I am not in the UK and pointless saying anything to them as it it is just what they do here. Grrr you are not being UR.

We used to keep chickens and it's a great hobby. But I made sure they never left the garden. They were only allowed to free range when I was at home, otherwise they were in a run. So your neighbor is being inconsiderate as they do shit everywhere. Your neighbors need to chicken proof their property and clip the chicken's wing regularly so they can fly.

I've put mesh over my vegie seedlings @Sunnyday1203 It is a total pain.