Is it legal for a neighbour to kill my guineafowl flow if they go on to their land?

[Garden Pixy]

We have two flocks of free ranging guineafowl and one of them (16 birds) has been feeding in a neighbouring property. The neighbour has killed 14 and badly wounded another with a crossbow. Is it legal for him to do so if the birds are 'trespassing' on his land?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[David.]

We had a similar experience with some Guineas from next door.
They took to roosting in a garage/shed by the house, and I at first thought how brilliant it would be for security to have them here.
What I didn't initially realise, is that they shite more than a horse; all over everything under their chosen spot.
They had to be encouraged to leave, I'm afraid

 

[neilo]

It was Budgens in Moreton-in-Marsh. Ironically, we had just moved from East Anglia and had shopped at Budgens Harleston, but they had no Guineafowl there. What really surprised us was that the same weekly shop (Guineafowl excluded!) cost way more in Moreton than it did in Harleston. Then I noticed that every delivery box said Budgens Moreton-in-Marsh on it. Having a different price bar code on every item! Bar-stewards!!

Well, if you will choose to shop such opulent surroundings.

When Tesco opened at Stow on the Wold it was said to be the dearest Tesco in the UK…

 

[David.]

Bet the loos even have gold taps don't they?

 

[Two Tone]

Slightly off topic, but in another of David Niven’s book, ‘Bring on the Empty Horses’, he describes a German Film Director that at all the Actors hated and took the pee out of mercilessly.
That Director’s English wasn’t that good and one day he got very cross and decided to have a word with the Actors, saying:

"You lousy bums, you and your stinking language, you think I know f-ck nothing, well let me tell you— I know F-CK ALL!’

Well, if you will choose to shop such opulent surroundings.

When Tesco opened at Stow on the Wold it was said to be the dearest Tesco in the UK…

Still is. Thank God for Aldi in Moreton and Chipping Norton. You’ll never see more Range-Rovers in any other Supermarket car park!

We had a similar experience with some Guineas from next door.
They took to roosting in a garage/shed by the house, and I at first thought how brilliant it would be for security to have them here.
What I didn't initially realise, is that they shite more than a horse; all over everything under their chosen spot.
They had to be encouraged to leave, I'm afraid

.22 Air rifle pellets up the Arse while sitting on the chimney is effective.
.177 not good enough!

Does this ring any bells?
Speaking for a friend.
But don’t try firing up the chimney unless it has been well swept!

 

[Still Farming]

But bow hunting is legal in US isn't it, even for deer?
Would a .50 Browning be enough gun for Guineas in US?
I'm sure there must be YouTube clips of girls in camouflaged Kevlar bikinis, thwhacking them from 1200 yds in Texas

They just use hand grenades out there do they?

 

[Hfd Cattle]

Two different issues here ...
Can he shoot the guinea fowl .....yes he can
Can he shoot them with a crossbow .....no he can't .

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Looks like several laws involved here if within the UK. But it is an interesting question!

I suspect it is illegal to 'release' guinea fowl with the intention of "returning them to the wild" under the Wildlife & Countryside Act. I used to use bob white quail trained to 'home' like racing pigeons for dog training purposes. It is illegal to 'release'(as defined above, i.e. intending to add them to the wild population) bob white quail but my solicitor said my use was legal as I intended to get them back.

Use of crossbow, definitely illegal.

Birds straying onto neighbour's land are still property and should be treated like any other straying livestock. Is it legal to shoot racing pigeons? Straying sheep? I don't think so.

I would say the aggrieved neighbour has various remedies under civil law. Nuisance? Damage to plants and crops? Noise abatement?

According to the local Facebook group, there's a peacock that is wandering far and wide in this area. Is it now wild bird? As non-indigenous, legal to shoot it? I wonder what they taste like......

I think one question is, are Guinea Fowl game, if they are, they become his property when they cross over onto his property (like Pheasants released by a shoot), however that still does not allow killing with a cross bow, and there is also the question of "neighbourlyness" and wanting to get on with your neighbour ~ that applies both ways! i.e. he shouldn't shoot your animals, you shouldn't let them stray onto his property.

 

[David.]

Slightly off topic, but in another of David Niven’s book, ‘Bring on the Empty Horses’, he describes a German Film Director that at all the Actors hated and took the pee out of mercilessly.
That Director’s English wasn’t that good and one day he got very cross and decided to have a word with the Actors, saying:

"You lousy bums, you and your stinking language, you think I know f-ck nothing, well let me tell you— I know F-CK ALL!’



Still is. Thank God for Aldi in Moreton and Chipping Norton. You’ll never see more Range-Rovers in any other Supermarket car park!


.22 Air rifle pellets up the Arse while sitting on the chimney is effective.
.177 not good enough!

Does this ring any bells?
Speaking for a friend.
But don’t try firing up the chimney unless it has been well swept!

No, would only shoot to kill humanely.
Was a house in the village here that the old boy always swept by repeatedly firing his 12b up the chimney..
ARU would have him spreadeagled on the lawn nowadays.

 

[ladycrofter]

It seems you have made a stick to hit yourself with. Free range anything doesn't include allowing your livestock to go property that isn't yours - whether cattle, sheep, birds or anything else.
The law requires you to properly contain your stock and it is disappointing that you have chosen to to not invest in suitable fencing and netting as the many pheasant and quail rearers do. Presumanly you thought you would be an exception to the rule of law and consideration for others i.e. your neighbours, where incessant noise, fouling, disease spread, destruction of ground and the many other attributes of fowl are concerned.

Your neighbour is unwise to use a crossbow. It is unfortunate that he has been driven to this extreme to rid himself of your livestock. A friend had the same problem with a neighbours hens destroying her vegetable garden. A quick check revealed she is entitled to kill them. Now in a properly fenced run.

I suggest you invest in proper fencing or get rid of the birds. You may not like the outcome if you involve the police as you are very much at fault also. If my cattle ran onto the road and caused a crash, due fencing deemed inadequate by the insurers, I would be in very big trouble.

 

[Dry Rot]

I think one question is, are Guinea Fowl game, if they are, they become his property when they cross over onto his property (like Pheasants released by a shoot), however that still does not allow killing with a cross bow, and there is also the question of "neighbourlyness" and wanting to get on with your neighbour ~ that applies both ways! i.e. he shouldn't shoot your animals, you shouldn't let them stray onto his property.

I think it has been established by the courts that pheasants in (for example) a release pen are not 'game' but property. They become game when they are "returned to the wild", i.e. permanently released with no intention to recapture them! Then, they also cease to be property. But it is not a free for all even then as the "property" is the "right" to kill them which is owned by he who owns the sporting rights! Isn't the law fun?

 

[CopperBeech]

Anyone who owns a crossbow is a f***ing bell end. Same goes for people who own samurai swords.

 

[MRT]

Anyone who owns a crossbow is a f***ing bell end. Same goes for people who own samurai swords.

Hmm. Still alive then?

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Anyone who owns a crossbow is a f***ing bell end. Same goes for people who own samurai swords.

If I trained Iai jutso or Iai do I would buy one! Kendo, they use a bamboo sword (Shinai) and in Aikido we use a wooden sword (bokken) although I have seen people training with a live blade).

 

[delilah]

Is your neighbour called Kevin ?

 

[Fatlamb]

I’m off the view here that i wouldn’t graze my sheep in someone’s field without permission so why should I put up with someones animals in my field especially load birds crapping everywhere?

 

[CopperBeech]

You know what I mean though! There is a certain type of adult male, who owns a cross bow, and a samurai sword, likes weird manga porn, and lives with his mum.

If I trained Iai jutso or Iai do I would buy one! Kendo, they use a bamboo sword (Shinai) and in Aikido we use a wooden sword (bokken) although I have seen people training with a live blade).

 

[Danllan]

You know what I mean though! There is a certain type of adult male, who owns a cross bow, and a samurai sword, likes weird manga porn, and lives with his mum.

You do seem to know a lot about this subject...

 

[CopperBeech]

Hmm. Still alive then?

You heard about my incident then

I’m alive just battered and have a hole in my chin!

 

[Two Tone]

You know what I mean though! There is a certain type of adult male, who owns a cross bow, and a samurai sword, likes weird manga porn, and lives with his mum.

I’m reminded of Nick Frost’s character Clive Gollings, in the film Paul.
“I want it!”

Three tits? Awesome!

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

I’m off the view here that i wouldn’t graze my sheep in someone’s field without permission so why should I put up with someones animals in my field especially load birds crapping everywhere?

I’m off the view here that i wouldn’t graze my sheep in someone’s field without permission so why should I put up with someones animals in my field especially load birds crapping everywhere?

I get a bit fed up with the wannabe game keepers next to us. Think we get more pheasants than they do and they don't bother to try to get them back
Bloody pain round the buildings