Neighbour’s chickens in our garden

[Iturnedmyfaceaway]

Our neighbours have a licence to cross our back yard in their car so there is a gap in the wall between the properties.
as restrictions on cooping up chickens have now eased they are letting the chickens roam free including in our garden.
the chickens are cute but:
1 in summer they peck your ankles
2 we don’t get any courtesy eggs or anything like that
3.we’ve had trouble with said neighbours using our yard for their own benefit before - had to write a letter to stop them parking there, etc.

wibu to ask them to contain their chickens to their own property? They have a big garden….

Black is the buildings (terraced)

Fizz, it’s a licence only

OP- what do you mean my a license only??? Like fizz above asked, what exact wording is on the deeds for their access? Are you in the UK?

• Apparently certain spices and citrus peel can be a deterrent: 'Dust the ground in between plants with cinnamon, paprika, garlic, curry powder, black pepper, salt, or a spice blend containing one or more of these options. Apply the spice to the perimeter of your garden, as well.[2]Most chickens don't like the pungent smell of strong spices, so they will tend to avoid areas that reek of them.'

I agree with telling the neighbours you have out some new plants in and can THEY add a fence to stop their chickens going onto your property. If they don't I'd try the spices above, a plastic hawk/owl type and a sensor controlled watering system.

There’s definitely no right to graze livestock. Definitely.

Yes UK. They know they have a licence to cross yard. Not to graze livestock.

Can they get out of your garden?

I don't quite understand it the gap is in your garden where they get in then simply put a fence,gate

Yes they can go back the way they came or squeeze under our back gate to freedom/foxes

Thanks Lady but this would cost many hundreds of pounds….

Leave your back gate open.

:)

Yanbu

Thankyou x

YANBU!
From your diagram it looks like they would be able to go into other gardens further down the terrace. Is that right? Do your neighbours have the same problem? Because it would be easier if you you speak jointly.
Also what's to stop the chooks going out onto the road if it's vehicular access they are wandering along?

Do you grant the licence? When does it need to be renewed?

If it's any time in the next 5 years, I'd be making noises about how it's really not working having them and their chickens constantly in your private garden, so if they won't contain them you won't renew the licence and you'll fence across the access!

Granny I don’t want to go nuclear but if necessary that’s the final solution.
they are ridiculous.

You don’t have to actually plant poisonous plants - just tell the neighbours that you have done so. Should be enough, if they care about their birds!

This just put in a gate. It’s an easy solution and what I’d probably do even if there weren’t chickens because it gives you that bit more privacy.

My brother has a right of way for his neighbours across their garden and they have a gate. Tbh I think it’s pretty standard.

Chickens make a real mess and can attract rats and foxes. I wouldn't want them in my garden if there's no benefit for me.

Just tell your neighbours they don't have permission for their chickens to go in your garden and they need to keep them on their own land.

I’m really surprised that the local foxes haven’t discovered their free ranging dinner. It’s only a matter of time, I’m sure.

I have an electrified chicken fence to keep my girls in and safe from predators. I even have 2 big dogs but I still need the electrified fence as previously a fox grabbed one of my chickens and my dog didn’t manage to catch him. 🤦🏻‍♀️

You might have to resort to a solicitors letter making it clear that a license to trespass across your land on a specific path, does not give them (farming) rights over all of your land.

@Iturnedmyfaceaway I mean, I'm a grumpy cow, but even I probably wouldn't actually DO it... Just hint heavily that it's a very real possibility if they don't stop fucking around.

They're there by your leave after all - you're absolutely holding all the cards.

Alternatively, make it a condition of the licence next time that they must not allow any pets or livestock to stray onto the access.

Eh? I hope he replied "not in my garden it isn't, please come remove it right now, thanks"

So is there anything from stopping the chickens from crossing the road?

it looks like they could walk down the length of the drive right, presumably right into the street.

I think the idea of a roll of chicken wire would be easy and cheap, hook it onto wooden posts at each end of the gap (or use other supports) so you can easily move it out of the way when you need to. Or wooden garden 'trellis' -- again it would need to be supported.

Can they put a moveable chicken wire frame across when they release the chickens? I couldn’t tolerate the feathery, flappy, shitting things in my garden.