Neighbors‘ chickens

Daily Life, Swiss News and General Topics
1

I’d appreciate some advice on a situation we’re dealing with.

Our neighbors keep chickens and allow them to roam freely. While there is a fence between our property and theirs, the chickens come through an unfenced third property and end up in our garden on a daily basis.

The tenants of that third property also own some of the chickens. It’s a group of about 5 or 6 young families who have formed a sort of small community. We’re in a urban/ suburban neighborhood definitely not rural.

Ideally, I would prefer that the chickens not come onto our property. I’d also rather not speak directly with the neighbors, as past attempts to resolve similar issues didn’t go well.

Does anyone know if we’re expected to just accept animals from neighboring properties wandering into our yard, or if there’s anything we can reasonably do about it?

2

Fence-in your property?

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3

get the chickens to lay their eggs in your garden and keep them (the eggs).

That fence will be up and in perfect shape in no time which I guess you will regret after the experience of daily fresh eggs.

From a legal point of view: The owners have to fence in their chickens.

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4

Borrow a dog

5

…or a cat!

6

a friend of mine (Swiss) used to had chicken in her backyard. It Zurich the legislation became sooo strict about the type of space, facilities and management of the animals, that the risk of a fine (and seizure) by the health and animal husbandry department outcosted the benefits… you’ll have to check the legislation in your canton / gemeinde

7

Fence it off. Or get some chicken recipes and enjoy the free meat :wink:

8

Give it one shot with the neighbours, either by letter or in person if you’re feeling up to it then at least you can say you tried, then go and ask at the gemeinde. I’m sure if they hear about poorly controlled chickens wandering around they’ll be interested.

There’s a small-holding not far from me that keeps small animals; chickens, goats, etc., and one Saturday afternoon the chickens staged an escape and made it as far as the 80km/h road that runs alongside. Police were all over it. God only knows what that little call out cost the owners.

9

Has it been happening for a long time?

I live in a suburban area, anyway martens and foxes happily roam around. Martens started making noises a couple weeks ago. Large birds of prey are a common sight too. If people cares little about keeping their chickens safe, nature will run its course sooner than later.

10

This issue started last year. It bothered me less over the winter.

We had problems with one of the members in their little community last summer. They used to keep a rooster that would wake us up every morning before 5 a.m. After repeated complaints, one of them even came to my door while I was home alone and called me a “fucking desperate housewife” to my face.

At that point, I contacted their landlord and said I would go to the Gemeinde about their shed, which doesn’t appear to have a permit. It was originally built as a garden shed before we bought our home, but was later converted into a chicken coop. Only after that did they finally get rid of the rooster.

That experience is the main reason I don’t want to approach them directly again.

I’m now considering putting up a fence to block off access from the third property. The cost will likely be around 1,500–2,000 CHF. What really frustrates me is that we’ll have to cover the expense to fix a problem that isn’t ours to begin with.

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11

Maybe try first with a motion activated garden sprinkler? Not endorsing Galaxus, that’s only the 1st result in google for me.

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12

a cat is cheaper… :-D… and they will pay for the fencing !

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The only way you will get a fence that you want is to do it yourself. Insisting that they do will result in unforeseen consequences.

14

That was really funny. (I suppose not for the owners or the police :))

15

Approach it from the animal welfare perspective: You’re not complaining, your concerned about the chicken’s welfare. You’re not a Karen, you’re doing good.

TLDR; contact your cantonal veterinary agency.

It’s definitely not Ok not to fence them in as that exposes them to additional threats risks including traffic (who knows where they might go to from your property, after they avoided the local cat/fox/marten/etc population), and of course it’s an easily preventable nuisance for the neighbors. It’s probably not Ok not to protect them from birds of prey and four-legged predators (which is one of a rooster’s main roles); while this is nature doing nature it nonetheless goes against animal welfare.

With H5N1 making rounds, and considering that it seems to be mainly spread by wild geese and ducks, you don’t even need to fake concern given the fact that the virus has already crossed species boundaries in the USA. Depending on where you are, this might directly affect your neighbors, if not you have at least valid reason to act concerned.

Here’s an article in German from january:

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16

Thanks for sharing that perspective.

Honestly, I do feel a bit like a Karen bringing this up. The chickens themselves aren’t really the issue—they don’t bother me that much. What’s more frustrating is the neighbors’ lack of boundaries, quite literally. We already dealt with the rooster situation, and yet they don’t seem to think twice about letting their animals wander into our garden. They live a very alternative lifestyle, and it often feels like they assume their way is the only right way. Though, I’ll admit, that could be me projecting a bit.

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From what you write you’re not the one pushing your lifestyle onto others, it’s the other way round. It’s not a Karen who insists on determining her own rules on his own property, that’s just putting others in their place.

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18

Here’s a little letter for you, in Swiss german:

Hoi zäme
Ich hoff, es geht euch guet.

Ich wollt nur rasch meldä, dass eure Hühner in letschter Zyt immer wieder in mis Garte laufe, wo sie teilweise Blueme, Gmües und neui Pflänzli beschädige. Sie scharräd ume, hinterlond „Spuri“ und säge grad: sie fühled sich sehr willkomme – vielleicht es bitzeli z’wohl.

I dä Zämehange möcht ich e paar wichtige Punkte erläuterä:

1. Tierhalterpflicht (Obhutspflicht)
Als Besitzer*in vo Nutztier wie Hühner händ ihr laut Tierschutzgesetz (TSchG) und Zivilgesetzbuch (Art. 679 ZGB) d’Verantwortig, d’Tier so z’halta, dass sie keine Sachbeschädigung oder übermässige Immission verursache – au nöd bim Nöchi.

2. Pflicht zur Einfriedung
Wenn Hühner öppedie i fremdi Gärte laufe, isch das e Verletzig vom Nachbarschaftsrecht. Eigentümer mached sich potenziell schadensersatzpflichtig (ZGB Art. 684 ff.), vor allem wenn’s wiederholt passiert.

3. Schutz vom Privatgarte
Dä Garte isch kei öffentlechi Freifläche – will heisse: mis Garte isch nöd für „Freilandhaltung light“ vorgseh.

4. Landwirtschaftliche Tierhaltung in Wohnzone
Wie ihr wisst, git’s für d’Halterig vo Nutztiere in Wohnzone (wie d’unsrigi) spezielli Vorschrifte. D’Gemeindeverordnige regle klar, wie viel Platz, wie viel Emission u wie viel Lärm tolerierbar isch. D’Hühner müend dabei klar eingezäunt sii, damit Nachbare, Garte und de allgemeini Frieden nöd unötig belascht wird.

Ich gang mal devu us, dass das e chlini Unachtsamkeit isch – drum wär’s super, wenn ihr d’Hühner künftig e bitzeli besser im Eigetum würdet halta oder en Zaun montieret. Wär schade, müessti mir das mit dr Gemeindeverwaltig oder Versicherung erläuterä.

Merci für eui Verständnis – u falls ihr mal Chörnl braucht: mine Rasen isch zur Zyt sehr beliebt

Liebi Grüess

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19

Buy a gun and do target pactice.

20

Thank you for that Spinal

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