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.

 

[matthew]

My advice would be, fence them on your own land. And clip one wing so they can't fly over.

 

[copse]

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.

Should think he’s totally fed up with them

 

[Garden Pixy]

Thanks for the replies so far but it doesn't answer the question as to the legality...what if it were sheep, cattle or horses 'trespassing'?

 

[Still Farming]

Thanks for the replies so far but it doesn't answer the question as to the legality...what if it were sheep, cattle or horses 'trespassing'?

See what coppers say?

 

[Werzle]

Thanks for the replies so far but it doesn't answer the question as to the legality...what if it were sheep, cattle or horses 'trespassing'?

Do you think it was legal to let them trespass

 

[spin cycle]

Thanks for the replies so far but it doesn't answer the question as to the legality...what if it were sheep, cattle or horses 'trespassing'?

guinea fowl arn't best things for neighbour relations....but i reckon shooting them with a cross bow isn't the best idea.....i think plod might be interested.....not in dead fowl but fact he's miss using a crossbow

 

[hendrebc]

I'm pretty sure (but don't know 100%) it wouldn't be legal for him to do that especially with a crossbow. I do know thaf if a farmer shoots a dog on their land that isn't worrying livestock then it is criminal damage because the dog is the dog owners property and you've damaged it by killing it.
You should make every effort to stop your livestock from wandering off your property though.

 

[Fatlamb]

Keep them on your land- problem solved them

 

[paul&mandy]

Pretty sure it's against the law to use a crossbow to kill if your in the uk

 

[Dukes Fit]

Killing any animal with a bow or crossbow is illegal in the UK. Pest species or not.

 

[Rogstores]

Keep them on your land if you want them , not so sure he should be shooting them with a crossbow though , most normal people tell there neighbour that there stock are out , they don’t usual kill them with bow and arrows

 

[Nearly]

If they're on your land they're fowl. If they're on the neighbour's they're game or vermin.
I told one neighbour this 30 years ago. He found a roll of netting the same day.

 

[honeyend]

I think unless its a wild bird they can,

Is it illegal to use guineafowl to protect our poults? - ShootingUK

We have been told that we are breaking the law by releasing a few guineafowl with our pheasant poults. Is this correct? We don’t shoot them, but use them as guards to warn of foxes.

www.shootinguk.co.uk

its your job to fence them in. They are eating something on their land, and that could be classed as theft.
Come to think of it if they are domestic birds should they be out now anyway, for bird flu?

 

[roscoe erf]

it's illegal to hunt with a bow in the UK, and has been since the mid 60s. The reason; to stop people causing unnecessary harm to an animal, from anyone just going around shooting for "fun".!

 

[Agri Spec Solicitor]

Animals Act 1971 worth reading.

 

[betweenthelines]

How did they come into your possession? Did you buy eggs and hatch them or have you just "tamed" a few wild birds.

Bit like saying deer are "yours" because they live in your woods.

 

[Courier]

Keep them on your land if you want them , not so sure he should be shooting them with a crossbow though , most normal people tell there neighbour that there stock are out , they don’t usual kill them with bow and arrows

That’s a bit like rabbits becoming game when they are being poached and thus requiring a game licence to shoot.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

I think it would be best to fence them in, however he should not kill them especially with a crossbow.

 

[David.]

I can see how he might get fed up with being scolded by a flock of someone else's come-backs every time he sets foot in his own yard...