Neighbour has a cockeral

Lieja

I think all you can really do is have a word with the council like your neighbour has done. Have you tried speaking to the owners?

We have allotments at the bottom of our garden, and it's quite a chickeny area. I like listening to them, but I tend to get up early anyway. I can see they might be annoying if you're trying to sleep, and you don't expect them to be moving in next door!

How long have they had the cockerel? You might get used to it yet!

Davesnave

I have a big cockerel here in on my smallholding. The neighbours' kids say he wakes them up, but because we're in the country, I can reply, "It's a country sound, kids; get over it!"

Even if I get rid of him, which I'll do quite soon now, there are others nearby. I like hearing them, but they're unproductive and, occasionally, aggressive too. Few people actually want them, but they're a natural result of breeding. A friend of mine 'liberates' all hers in the local woods!

While chickens kept in 'normal' conditions are unlikely to be classed as a nuisance by a council, I believe that cockerels and barking dogs can be, especially if the environment is inappropriate, such as a housing estate.

So, if the neighbour is already keeping records for the council, you need to be doing the same and encouraging a few more to do likewise. This might be more effective if some of you also report seeing rats.

jjlandlord

Davesnave wrote: »

In law, while chickens cannot be classed as a nuisance.

Chickens can be a nuisance. A nuisance exists depending on the circumstances of the case, not on the animal involved.

Davesnave

jjlandlord wrote: »

Chickens can be a nuisance. A nuisance exists depending on the circumstances of the case, not on the animal involved.

OK then, almost anything can be a nuisance in extreme circumstances, but the Allotments Act makes it unlikely chickens kept in 'normal' conditions would become the concern of a council.

jjlandlord

Davesnave wrote: »

the Allotments Act makes it unlikely chickens kept in 'normal' conditions would become the concern of a council.

That's very different from your original statement, isn't it?

The Act also makes it clear that no nuisance should be created.

Davesnave

jjlandlord wrote: »

That's very different from your original statement, isn't it?

Not now it isn't!

mgarl10024

I can't see how this is much different to say a neighbour's dog barking at 430am - a nuisance in a built up area.

Gigervamp

Cockerels aren't really a good idea on a housing estate. It's a shame really. When I was a child, I used to love hearing a cockerel crowing in the morning when I stayed at my grandparents. I still love the sound now, which is a good job really as we currently have 6 boys in our flock!

OP, I'm just going to repeat what others have said. Speak to the neighbour with the cockerel, if that doesn't work, contact the environmental health dept at the council.

RuthnJasper

Gigervamp wrote: »

Cockerels aren't really a good idea on a housing estate. It's a shame really. When I was a child, I used to love hearing a cockerel crowing in the morning when I stayed at my grandparents. I still love the sound now, which is a good job really as we currently have 6 boys in our flock!

OP, I'm just going to repeat what others have said. Speak to the neighbour with the cockerel, if that doesn't work, contact the environmental health dept at the council.

Have to say that I like the sound of a cockerel crowing too. There's one in the garden opposite mine and I'm so used to it that I barely notice it any more. Better a cockerel than an over-loud stereo at 4.30am... But if it's a real problem I agree that the environmental health bods are the ones to contact.

ripplyuk

Once the days get shorter, he'll not be up crowing so early. I keep poultry and I love to hear the cockerel in the morning. It doesn't wake me anymore though but he'll crow throughout the day. Luckily, I'm in the country.

As said earlier, speak to your neighbour about it. They could try keeping them in the coop until later in the morning. If that doesn't work, other options include keeping him in a dark box overnight. Sometimes nothing works and only option is to cull. There's no market for cockerels and they'll be unlikely to find anyone to take it.