We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Money Moral Dilemma: Should they pay for the chicken?
Options
Comments
-
Obviously something should be done. They wouldn't like it if you let a hunting dog into their garden and it killed the chickens, and if the situation continues it will take all the pleasure and satisfaction out of your garden. I'd try to get them to pay for fencing and/or help put it up. That looks like a positive approach, working together for a solution, instead of exacting revenge, eye-for-an-eye sort of thing. If they won't help at all, I'd put the fencing up myself but I think I'd reconsider on whether they were really so 'lovely'. As another poster said, they might have intended to do it and not got round to it, but now they have to if they still want to be seen as decent neighbours.'Whatever you dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin now.' Goethe
0 -
Of course they should ask. It's no different to keeping a dog and not preventing it going into other gardens and damaging plants etc. They have a duty to ensure something under their control doesn't affect others.0
-
Yes, free eggs to the value of the lost vegetation would be a start.
It is annoying when you ask people to do something and they do nothing about it.
I would suggest they keep their chickens secure as the foxes are more likely to get them, if my cat hasn't got to them firstAn average day in my life:hello: :eek::mad: :coffee::coffee::coffee::T:rotfl: :rotfl:
:eek::mad: :beer:
I am no expert in property but have lived in many types of homes, in many locations and can only talk from experience.0 -
If you have asked them to fix the fencing, then it is down to them to compensate you for your loss, perhaps not in cash, but in kind, free eggs for a period of time agreed by both.0
-
If it was me who owned the chickens and they had eaten all my neighbour's crops, I'd be mortified, knowing how much effort goes into growing them. So I'd be inclined to tell them how upset you are, that you don't want to fall out with them, but as you've asked on several times before, you are now insisting that they make immediate efforts to make their chickens escape proof. As an aside, I'd tell them that you were relying on these vegetables to feed you for the rest of the year and now you are going to have to spend money buying them. I wouldn't specifically ask for compensation. If they're decent minded people they should get the message that this implies and will hopefully come up with some way of compensating you. But I'd try to avoid an all out war. However upset you are now, you'll have to live with the after effects.0
-
I would speak to the lovely neighbours again and work out who should pay for a fence to be put up. It could just be chicken wire. I would also work out how the chickens are getting out. Are they in an enclosed run with a roof? Remember if the chickens can get out a fox can get in too.
I wouldn't risk being on bad terms with them as there is a risk you could loose your chickens. e.g if they reported you to the council. I would ask for some free eggs in a pleasant way as they should taste lovely after all that veg and maybe some vegetable seeds.
I am a chicken owner and would give my neighbour free eggs for a couple of weeks and some seeds or promise to share the veg in my own garden, plus I would make sure my chickens couldn't escape the run or garden.
If the neighbour is nice I am sure you won't have a problem again.0 -
I think if they gave you the eggs, then it wouldbe hard to expect compensation, but it is worth mentioning it under those circumstances. As you pay for the eggs, then I think you can speak to them express your concerns that their chickens have eaten your entire summer crop and suggest you talk about some form of compensation, maybe free eggs for life!;)0
-
I think the answer is yes; they SHOULD compensate you. They were fairly warned that their animals were 'trespassing' on your property. If it was my animal that had destroyed their property, I wouldn't hesitate to offer compensation.
The bare facts of the matter is that your property has been vandalised/destroyed/consumed by animals for which your neighbours' are responsible. They should have taken steps to prevent the chickens getting out long before this happened.
Perhaps expecting compensation for a years' worth of fruit 'n' veg is a bit extreme - but you are certainly entitled to something. It was the poultry-keepers' fault - not yours.0 -
Life is too short to be at war with your neighbours. If I was on good terms with them I would accept free eggs and anything else they grew or produced. They would also have to ensure that it never happened again. If it did I would expect payment.0
-
No you shouldn't ask them to pay but highlight the fact that this is significant damage/loss for you so that they will finally build proper fence etc so that this does not happen again.
I can honestly say that it would not be worth the potential fall out as being on bad terms with your neighbours is a nightmare (past experience) and I ultimately ended up moving as a result.
If they are decent people they will offer to pay anyway if you explain in real terms how much damage this has done0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 351.2K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.2K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.7K Spending & Discounts
- 244.2K Work, Benefits & Business
- 599.3K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177K Life & Family
- 257.6K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards