my neighbors chickens are a nuisance

If you've ever had free-range chickens wreak havoc on your yard or garden, you know how much damage they can inflict in a short period of time. When trying to maintain a healthy garden, it can be a nuisance if your neighbour allows theirs to look unkempt and overgrown. Google Chrome, By bringing suit, the plaintiff usually seeks to control or limit the use of the land owned by the defendant. There are a few things you can do to discourage chickens from trampling, scratching, and pecking certain areas, though. I'll pop a few with a bb gun every so often but if they start to become a nuisance, I've thought about upping to a .22. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. Laws regulating pets and other animals often have the terms "dogs," "animal control," or "animal law enforcement" in the title. The dog's barking wakes up Neighbor A, who becomes sleep-deprived and agitated. What should I do? Wrap the chicken wire around the stakes, weaving the stakes into the mesh vertically so that the entire structure remains secure. You can bring this up with the owner if she isn't following the rules. The water would only repel them for a short amount of time and the pressure of a long distance gun may be harmful to them. The chickens will usually return shortly after you spray them the first time, but if you do this consistently enough, they may eventually associate your yard with the water and start to avoid it. Established perennial herbs are also rooted firmly into the ground, making it difficult for chickens to scratch them out even if they do get curious. However, I am a jerk. What Can I Do if My Neighbor's Animals are Creating a Problem? Reactions: JStaff2187 , Wall Knight Teague , Col. Angus and 3 others If a direct discussion with your neighbor is unsuccessful, then understanding these laws is one of the first steps to solving animal-related disputes. For seven to 15 chickens, and also for 16 to 30 chickens, and/or roosters, or other fowl, signatures of at least 80% of neighbors within 100 feet are required. And as a last resort in these types of disagreements, you can file a civil lawsuit for nuisance and seek a court order demanding that your neighbor resolve the problem in a timely matter. Since we never noticed, I guess it wasn’t a big deal. My neighbor has free range chickens and they've been getting into my garden. While neighbours can have problematic habits, they’re not always issues you can complain about. Visit our professional site », Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors A public nuisance is anything that is injurious to health (like toxic spills), indecent to the senses (stinky garbage, noise, etc. This article has been viewed 239,135 times. Chickens generally don't like the smell of citrus, and that smell might be enough to repel them. The following animal behavior, pet owner actions, or other conditions are typically regulated by such laws: As a rule of thumb, the police department will not be able to help you unless it is an urgent situation. Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy. The chickens will gravitate toward this area. | Last updated March 09, 2020. The old couple across the street and one house down once saw my chicken in my neighbors yard, took and photo, and called the police. If not you have to prove that the chickens are causing a nuisance. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. But he has since acquired at least a dozen chickens… I am a bit worried about foxes being attracted though. However, because chickens are allowed by the city's ordinance, my friend will have an uphill battle proving in court that the chickens are a private nuisance. Younger forms might be too weak. Whether it is barking dogs, loud music, or stinky chickens, talking to your neighbor in a casual, non-threatening manner may spur your neighbor to fix the problem. We have spoken with them several xs … If it's a bird feeder issue, maybe use a smaller bird feeder for the birds you are feeding. There are two basic types of nuisance suits. We live in Fairfield and my longtime neighbor has decided he wants to be a farmer or something. (In my town, they're not.) ), unlawfully impeding free use of the streets (like cars parked in the road), or obstructing free use of property so as to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property (everything else). For example, Neighbor A gets five hens he plans to raise in the backyard for eggs. Refer to the Governing Laws. Keep the water pressure light so that it scares the chickens without hurting them. Nuisance Laws; Noise Ordinances; In some cities that I have looked at, there was no law directly relating to chickens, but their are nuisance laws the prohibit keeping livestock that offends your neighbors. Contact a qualified attorney to help you address difficulties with your neighbors. Use the methods above instead. Many people are unaware of the impact they have on their neighbors. Planting edible bushes will be a bonus feature for the chickens. We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. Alternatively, purchase wire hardware cloth and cut a rectangle large enough to cover the area you wish to protect. And although chickens constantly forage for food throughout the day, if you think they aren't being fed properly then maybe get in contact with the SPCA. If the weeds are causing your plants to wither, try pulling up some without completely clearing the area. Your local council will be able to advise on this. Alternatively, surround the base of the newly sprouted container plant with stones or bricks as though it were planted in the ground. Clear a square space roughly 1 yard (91.4 cm) long and 1 yard (91.4 cm) wide. If you’re dealing with noise, which is the most common reason for disputes between neighbors, refer to the letter of the law.There are ordinances to prohibit unnecessary, unreasonable, and excessive levels of noise meant to protect you from being a victim of noise-makers. Yesterday, while I was at the dentist getting some work done on my crappy British teeth, I received a text message from my neighbor Girly Girl. Only established herbs are strong enough to withstand rummaging chickens. Most likely the spices will be mixed in with the dirt so they won't be washed away. My neighbor's dog killed one of my chickens last night. It may be helpful to reference related articles including Property Rights: My Neighbor is a Nuisance, Your Neighbors' Right to Farm and Dog Bites and Animal Attacks. But that's not always effective. It depends on how long it is after you sprinkle the spices before it starts to rain. can u go to the enviromental department about this? I ask her to keep them away but they still continue to come onto my property. We are a one family community and I have complained in writing to my HOA, as our covenant has a nuisance restriction and an enforcement covenant that allows homeowners to enforce any restriction. Is that true? Raising Backyard Chickens: How to Get Rid of Nuisance Chickens # 572. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. If repeated complaints to the local animal control authorities do not solve the problem, then you may want to consider filing a nuisance lawsuit in court. By Mavis Butterfield on July 11, 2012 - 13 Comments. For that reason, you may want to consider installing motion-activated water sprinklers to catch the chickens when you're not around. Also, my family has a history of neighbors killing and eating our chickens. Apparently he bought a chicken some time ago. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e2\/Repel-Chickens-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Repel-Chickens-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e2\/Repel-Chickens-Step-1.jpg\/aid5580804-v4-728px-Repel-Chickens-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"