The neighbor has asked myself and another neighbor to pay 1/4 each of the cost to put up a new fence to keep their cows in. The estimate is for 20 grand. They are good people. I just dont know about us paying 10 g for their fence. Anyone have any experience with something like this? Thanks for your time.
I dont own cows
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Its fair to deny considering the cost surely they understand
Hahahaha – well, they tried. No way should you be paying for their fence for their cows. Be nice, but in your head, tell them to kick rocks.
Them cows gonna be all over your yard til the moon comes home if you don’t pay for that thar fence.
Normal common laws says it is the responsibility of the livestock owner to put up the fence. However, if they want to put up a fence that enhances your property then you might consider chipping in but other than that no.
Nope. They pay for their fence. Unless you want a need a fence.
They pay for their own fence. If a cow comes over your yard, it’s fair game. You got beef and milk.
Steaks for dinner😎
Ask trump how telling Mexico they have to pay for the wall to keep illegal immigrants out worked out for him. He has the experience.
I would remind them that they would save a lot of money by doing it themselves. Tell them good luck and have a good day.
Depends on what state you’re in, you might be in a fence out state and if you don’t want cows in your yard you’re gonna want the fence.
Yes, they are MOOchers. The fence must be on their property and thus they must pay the full expense. Case closed.
Why should you put money into something that they are the only ones to use?
Here in Virginia, USA each neighbor has to pay for half.
Are they just now getting cows? And doing so BEFORE they fence their land in??
If they give you free hamburgers for life. Maybe
No but do you mind their cows in your land?
How do you feel about their cows on your land?
Maybe work out a deal? You help em out with the fence and get half a cow a year till they need a new fence?
If you did this I’d judge you so hard 😂 the fact that you are posting this in advice and not some sort of r/wildneighbors subreddit is crazy
It depends on state law. In rural Arizona, it is the landowner’s responsibility to keep cattle off their property. We had to build a fence to keep them from destroying everything in sight.
What do they do with the cows? Whatever it is if you pay for 1/4 of the fence you should get 1/4 of whatever profit they get from the cows.
If they have cows, it’s their responsibility to make sure the cows stay on their property. You should not be paying for this fence.
Let them know you need a new piece of farm equipment backhoe, something big and you need their financial participation due to the fact they may need its services later on!!!
Nope it is their fence to keep their animals safe so it is their responsibility.
Our laws here in Montana require that each landowner pay for half the fence, you’ll have to look up the law in your state. Generally speaking though if you refuse to pay for your half of the fence the adjacent landowner can let his cows wander onto your property. also though in some cases the adjacent landowner can go ahead and build your half of the fence bill you for it, if you don’t pay it they can attach it as a lien on your property.
Alternatively though it’s not that tough to build a fence yourself, and most states have guidelines on the statute for what constitutes a legal range fence.
Is the place where you live designated as open range? In that situation, cows can graze where they like. If you don’t want them on your property, you must fence them OUT. Now, if you do live on an open range, your neighbor is doing you a favor; offering to help you keep their livestock off your property. If it’s not open range, well, there’s the adage saying that good fences make good neighbors may help your decision.
Do you need the fence for dogs or something? If not, hell no.
What the what? Um no, their cows, not yours!
“I’m sorry but things are a bit tight. I would like to give you $1000 just to help however little it is.”
You might get a few gallons of fresh milk out of the deal
Lived near dairy farms most of my life, never once saw the farmer ask my parents or myself or our neighbors for money to pay for their fence. This is LUNACY.
Had cattle and a couple 10 acre pastures. Had a hot 2 wire fence. After they settled down and got stung a couple of times, they never touched it again. If wanted we could turn it off and all was well. Usually was also good at keeping the neighbors dogs out of the pasture too. Relatively cheap to put up.
Check you screws! One is loose!! Why on earth would anyone help pay for their neighbor’s new fence? And, tell your neighbor to check his screws, ’cause one of his is loose, too!!
Just say “no.”
Do you realize how many man hours you would save your neighbor if you chipped in on a new tractor?
A 1/4 of 20000 would be 5 grand. I would not offer to pay for their fence because that’s their issue to deal with
As a horse person, these people are ballsy and I wish I could have the cahones to try this. Also, wth?
Don’t pay even for nicer fencing. They will just destroy it with time.
Hahahaha I guess they gotta try and ask right ?
The answer is a NO
I have an Australian Cattle dog that will heard those cows and she doesn’t cost me near that much. Just a thought.
It depends on the state. Is it an open range state, like Colorado or a closed range state like most of Texas.
It all depends on what kind of fence you want to end up with. Chip in and he might afford a nice looking one. Don’t, and it’s going to be recycled pallets, barbed wire, and a motor oil finish 😂
It’s pretty common for land owners to split costs of adjoining fences. I don’t know where you’re located, but I would look into what’s normal in your area. Local laws etc…
Tell them they are dreaming. Their cattle, their yard, their fence.
However, some wire, a few poles and electric wire along the fence line of your property would keep the cows in and a heck of a lot cheaper too
Are you getting 1/4 of the milk or beef?
If you don’t want or care about a fence then it’s on them. They’re the ones who want cows. Oh and check your city ordinances. Cows are loud and smelly and create a ton of methane. If you’re in a city limits it’s unlikely cows are allowed
I’ve never met a cow that has let a fence get in the way of their mission.
I think you’d be spending money in vain😅
You better be getting a quarter cow free of charge delivered right to your freezer for 20 years for that
I live in Arizona. Same rule you don’t want them you fence them out. Called open range. My neighbor put up a solar electric fence-minimal expense/labor-works real well. Best part the cattle owner got shocked when it first went up.
No just no
All these experts on here….
You will have to check your states’ fence laws. Thats the only answer.
The fence has to be on their property and there has to be a certain distance between the actually property line and the fence. They cannot build on the actual property line.
This does vary by state though so double check your laws and get a land survey just in case they overstep.
Just tell them you’d love to help but aren’t in the position to take on a bill of that magnitude.
I don’t have any cows, and I don’t have 20 grand. I wish I could, but I can’t afford it.
It’s gonna get a little more complicated but
Figure out the cost of the cheapest possible fence that would meet the requirements.
Decide if you’re okay with this fence being installed. If yes, tell them you’re uninterested in paying anything for the fence to contain their animals, and that you’re happy with the bare minimum.
If you want something better, find the cost of at least one option you’re happy with, or more. Tell the cow owner you’re happy to pay for a portion of this fence.
Don’t pay a quarter of the total, pay half of the portion of the fence that actually boarders your property, minus the cost of the bare minimum fence off the total first, as this is the cost of the animal containment and therefore not your burden. Don’t enter in an agreement that involves a third party you don’t need to.
If they want something better but you’re happy with the bare minimum, you don’t have to pay. But it would be in bad faith to negotiate on that principle hoping they pay for a better fence themselves.
Put it all in writing, and make sure it’s included how future fence maintenance costs will be broken down. I’d recommend including that you won’t cover costs caused by their livestock damage.
Once again, if the bare minimum is good for you then don’t pay anything.
Let common sense prevail.
Free mushrooms
Thats insane & in no way your responsibility
[ Removed by Reddit ]
In exchange for free beef for life?
Tell him you need one processed cow per year in perpetuity.
Depends on your state, some states are open range so it’s the owners responsibility to fence out if they don’t want cattle on their property so in those states that’s a great deal. Or get cattle and run them on your neighbors land. Who doesn’t need a modern pleasant valley war.
I had a neighbor with horses that asked something similar. I didn’t give any money, but I helped put up the fence they got.
Surely barbed wire isn’t that expensive!
Tell them you think cows are wild animals and you can’t, in good conscience, lock them up like zoo animals.
Their cows, their fence, their problem.
Have you been having problems with their cows getting on your property?
depends on where you are, some regions (in the US at least) require the property owner (you) to put up a fence if you want to not have livestock wandering onto your land. however, you really need to provide more info , hell, you didnt even say what COUNTRY you are in.
Even for cows it’s technically a leash law as stated in legal terms. No it’s the civil not criminal part. In simple terms.
You are required to contain or be in control of any and all animals you own. Any damages they do you are responsible for. The law states you must contain or control. Method required is in some states defined and others not defined. Though the responsible for damages part is defined.
So legally he must provide the method for containment/control per the “leash” law. Not about a leash really but it’s how’s it’s revered to.
Tell them to go get stuffed. They’re not your problem
Why should you pay? They don’t want their cows to wander so they put a fenslce on their property. How does that become ypur expense? Will you get a cow every year to fill your fridge? Do you owe these people a debt?
How about no?
Tell the owner of the bovines:
Your cows. Your problem.
sounds like they’re asking you to pay to keep their cows out. hard no.
No fence. Free meat.
That’s a hard NO. Their cows, their problem. Just out of curiosity, what the hell ki d of fence they putting in that costs that much? I’ve ran a lot of barbwire in my day and damn that’s excessive
Where do you live? Laws vary from East to West so where you live matters. I live in the Western US and most of our states have “fence out” laws. I’m told states in the East are often the opposite.
So just to be sure we aren’t using trump math. Your part would be 5k and likely increase your property value. Check your local laws. It’s worth a phone call to local ag agent, lawyer or cattlemen’s association.
Fence laws and free-ranging (open range) livestock laws vary greatly from place to place. Depends on where you are as to who has what responsibility.
He has some nerve asking you for a fourth of the price. My brother-in-law is putting up a fence now and it is not cheap. But he’s not asking his neighbor on either side to pay for it.
Just tell them you don’t have the spare cash.
Erm…isn’t 1/4 of 20 five?
Hell no, and insist their fence be put up with a set back of 5 feet or whatever you city code says. That’s crazy. Because it’s for cows, I would see if that requires even more of a set back. Contact your city code enforcement to find out. I dont know if they actually are “good people” because they want to put cows (that I’m assuming they plan to profit from) right up to your property line and want you to contribute to the fence.
Depends on your state laws. Some states are fence out. This means if you dont want your neighbors livestock on your land it’s your responsibility to fence them out. If your in a fence in state, the owner of the livestock is responsible for keeping them fenced in on his property. Regardless, it is a cost that should be shared if you want to be a good neighbor.
Cows don’t require anything more than an electric wire knee high. Couple grand tops.
I thought the general rule of thumb was pretty black and white
I would tell them that while their situation moooooves you, it’s their responsibility
If you end up paying part of the cost for the fence, make sure that portion of the fence goes on your side of the property line so that you own it and it is on your land.
Negotiate a few whole cows butchered over a few years if you do kick in. Think of it like an investment. 1/4 to 1/2 a cow a year for 4 years or so. You get beef at a consistent rate, he gets money to build a fence that may stand a better chance at keeping those cows on his land, not yours.
Get it on paper.
Beef near me, in the west, is $7/lb ground. Figure up a number and amount of cattle by weight to keep your price from investment around $3/lb for the next few years.
Nice puns!