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Vent- neighbor poisoned my chickens!

post #1 of 46
10/11/10 at 7:16pm
Thread Starter 
I have 4 hens left- I hope I can nurse them back, they are eating and drinking, and I've cleaned out the coop completely.

My dog barked and barked last night (she sleeps inside,) and when I got a chance to step outside, I saw a neighbor walking back to his house from my yard with a small bucket in hand. I asked what he was doing and he ignored me.

I checked on the chickens quickly as that's been a hugeissue for him and found fresh feed scattered. I stopped some from eating the feed on the coop floor, but apparently not soon enough. Four of them died this morning.

I called the Sheriff's office, and they are unwilling to act. It could have been 'accidental' after all.

We are moving soon, and while I would raise a ruckus if we were staying, I will not at this point in time.
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post #2 of 46
10/11/10 at 11:23pm
WHAT??!??! I can not believe someone would do that on purpose. What a terrible, terrible person! So sorry for your loss!
post #3 of 46
10/12/10 at 10:19am
Thread Starter 
I have terrible neighbors- however, one of them in the mayor. I have very little recourse as I'm not part of the Old Boys Club here.
post #4 of 46
10/12/10 at 10:23am
OMG!!! What did they have against your chickens??? That is freaking sick!

I'm so sorry this has happened to you.
post #5 of 46
10/12/10 at 11:03am
I'm sorry. That is just freaking awfull. People suck.
post #6 of 46
10/12/10 at 11:25am
wow...I hate people some times. argg what a gross and horrible man.
post #7 of 46
10/12/10 at 11:29am
That's terrible! I'm so sorry about your chickens
post #8 of 46
10/12/10 at 11:31am
Thread Starter 
I live on the outskirts of a town that passed an 'animal ordinance' after I got the chickens (having already spoken to the one neighbor close enough to worry about- he's fine.) The new ordinance means that I can't replace any of them as they die of old age (or, are killed off- even.) One neighbor ringed several of our young trees this summer as he believes that trees lower his property value (he is of the 'better living through chemistry' approach to his own golf-course style lawn) and another sprayed pesticides and herbicides all over our garden as he didn't 'want anything to infest his place'. Organic is a curse word in these parts.

Essentially, I made the mistake of trying to live in an area where my thoughts and beliefs are scary.
post #9 of 46
10/12/10 at 12:34pm
OMG. That is freaking terrible. I'd be throwing a fit. I would. I'd be getting restraining orders and putting up electric fencing and letting them get hurt/sick on your property. I would. Cause' they can't sue you - what for? THEY are the ones tresspassing.
post #10 of 46
10/12/10 at 1:02pm
nak

those poor hens, no-one deserves such a painful death.

one midnight before you go water his lawn with strong brine, or just plain old chuck salt on it. you could write a pretty message for him. i could not rise above such brutality.
post #11 of 46
10/12/10 at 1:13pm
oh my! how terrible. i would go the whole electric fence route too. not only did they kill your chickens but they are poisoning your garden?!?! which means poisoning your family?!?! i would be livid.
post #12 of 46
10/13/10 at 1:32am
Thread Starter 
I'm gone through being outraged over the course of the past several months- at this point, I'm just working on maintaining. We are moving sooner rather than later, as it became clear that this would not be a 'forever' place for us. It breaks my heart, and I was devastated about my poor hens.

I struggle with how angry I can be at this particular man as he was recently diagnosed with significant brain tumors (the sort people only really develop when they work with nasty chemicals for long periods of time) and I know his time in this world is limited. I also wonder if that has influenced his judgment- so that while these might be things you'd consider when annoyed, he crosses the line to DO them when he otherwise would not have.
post #13 of 46
10/13/10 at 8:11am
Install a game cam to record any future trespass.Glad to read you are moving.NFH are the worst.Not sad to hear he is ill.
post #14 of 46
10/13/10 at 2:26pm
Oh how horrible! I'm so sorry it happened to you.
post #15 of 46
10/13/10 at 5:01pm
I hope you can move very soon. So sorry, mama. This is disgusting.
post #16 of 46
10/14/10 at 1:37pm
I agree with installing a camera and fencing.

I wonder about the unwillingness of the police to act though. Presumably whatever poison he used is also dangerous to others - including children.

Do you have the wherewithall to collect some of the feed and have a lab test it yourself? Are private prosecutions possible in your jurisdiction?
post #17 of 46
10/14/10 at 3:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by confustication View Post
I have 4 hens left- I hope I can nurse them back, they are eating and drinking, and I've cleaned out the coop completely.

My dog barked and barked last night (she sleeps inside,) and when I got a chance to step outside, I saw a neighbor walking back to his house from my yard with a small bucket in hand. I asked what he was doing and he ignored me.

I checked on the chickens quickly as that's been a hugeissue for him and found fresh feed scattered. I stopped some from eating the feed on the coop floor, but apparently not soon enough. Four of them died this morning.

I called the Sheriff's office, and they are unwilling to act. It could have been 'accidental' after all.

We are moving soon, and while I would raise a ruckus if we were staying, I will not at this point in time.
this is awful! At least you can press charges for trespassing.
post #18 of 46
10/14/10 at 3:37pm
I would call the state police and tell them you want to press charges on the neighbor for trespassing and cruelty to animals and your local police have refused to cooperate with you.
post #19 of 46
10/14/10 at 7:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lynsage View Post
I would call the state police and tell them you want to press charges on the neighbor for trespassing and cruelty to animals and your local police have refused to cooperate with you.

post #20 of 46
10/14/10 at 9:56pm
I don't see how a man WALKING to your yard PURPOSEFULLY throwing food into a hen area is accidental in any way. Even if he THOGUHT the food was "good" he still should be responsible. Call until they take you seriously. Killing pets can not legal!! Ugh I'm livid reading about it
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