Melanie Jane Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 Hi.. I'm posting this on behalf of a good friend of mine who has just got home to a letter from the council detailing a complaint from one of her neighbours about her hens waking them up in the morning (she doesn't have a cockerel). Obviously, she is really upset about it.. the neighbour didn't even attempt to talk directly to her before complaining to the council. Does anyone have any advice or info on how councils deal with such complaints? I've suggested she keeps them locked in and lets them out later in the morning.. But does it stress the hens to keep them locked in until say 7.30am? I've been doing the same and would like to know what other owners who live close by to non-chicken lovers do! Mel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 It doesnt stress them no. Our council just send out a letter as soon as they get a complaint. Her best step is probably to contact them and say her hens are not noisy and that they can come and check if they want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirkwood Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 Mmmm well i am a little cosern myself as mine where a little on the rowdy side this morning about 8am my fault i allowed them to freerange on tuesday and now they want out. someone will be along shorlty to help you good luck to your friend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 If truth be known-the neighbour is possibly a 'Meldrew' type person and saw the chooks as something to complain about...even when there isnt any noise. Counteract the complaint by saying he/she plays 'The Prodigys' Firestarter late at night.Would be especially amusing if they are a pensioner... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 I shut my chooks in overnight and they are let out weekdays at 7 and later at the weekends. it doesnt stress them and the reason i do this is because mine are noisy. So keeping them shut in keeps them quiet until a reasonable hour of the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 Can't help regarding council complaint advice. But I do keep mine locked in their eglu until 7.15/730am weekdays and same or roughly 8am on Sundays. They are absolutely fine. I do it because last Summer twice mine were up at 4am bawking like mad at a duck that flew in the garden and then at a cat. So decided from then on to keep them locked up and it is fine. Only downside is having to pad around the garden at 7.15am in my dressing gown to open the eglu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 If you were to speak to someone at the council they would most likely tell you that they have a duty to 'follow things up' If you then can stay calm and explain that they are no louder than local dogs barking, car alarms going off, kids playing in the street etc. I suspect they would be a little apologetic and take it no further. Good Luck Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 I think most councils are the same and if they get a complaint they have to take action and the first step is to notify the person being compained about, which is the letter your friend has got. They would also have written a similar letter to her neighbour outlining what steps can be taken and they will probably also have asked him to keep a diary over a period of several weeks listing dates and times and description of the noise that causes the nuisance, this is to help them assess if the noise is sufficient to be classed as a statutory nuisance and is often enough to put petty complainants off. If your friend's neighbour doesn't keep the diary then the council is unlikely to take any further action (hopefully they have got better things to spend your money on) Shame he didn't speak directly to your friend about it first. Did the council give her the name of the person who complained? I let mine out at 7:30 most mornings but it can stretch to 7:45 or even 8:00 at weekends if I'm feeling lazy. I used to let them out at 7:00 when I first got them but decided that was too early for me so moved it gradually by about 5 mins later every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chooks Aloud Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 I'm going through this at the moment. The nasty man at the back of me complained and I too got a letter from the council. I rang them to explain they were not noisy and they told me not to worry. They have to send these forms out, he gets monitoring forms to and after a period (about one month) they will write again saying that no further action will be taken or that they are going to come round and witness the noise. All my other neighbours were mad that this had happened and they have written to the council supporting me and the chooks, confirming that my chooks are not noisy, and that some of them didn't even realise I had chooks until I told them that someone had complained. Hopefully the council will read all these letters and realise it is only one sad person complaining - obviously got nothing better to do with his life. I have videod the chooks activity, at various times during the day and you cannot hear my chooks at all, only the wild birds, cars, sirens, barking dogs etc. I've even got the complainants dog on video making a racket, far more noise than you would ever hear from a chook. I'll keep you all informed when I know more - it's just a writing game at the moment. Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chooks Aloud Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 Silly me, I meant waiting game! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 I am so glad you replied Chooks Aloud as I was going to try and add a link to your post. (But it has been a bit of 'a writing game' by the sound of it) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ's Chooks Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 I know from history, that Fareham have to act on every complaint, however they also seem quite good at forgetting to do anything after they chat to you, and have the same view of neighbours as we normal people do. Ours was a planning related issue over a climbing frame believe it or not.... our neibours though we should have planning permission. we never saw the man from the council again, but he went away smiling. Hope they do the same with your issue chooks aloud!!!... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chooks Aloud Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Thanks LJ - I'll keep you posted. Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodle Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 I have lived in my house for 14 years and have never had a problem with neighbours. However I was very upset when I received a notice of complaint made about noise from the council last summer. This was before I had chickens, it was acomplaint about my teenagers playing their music loudly. I think the council send the letter out as a matter of course. I heard nothing more from the council. I would not worry too much unless someone from the coucil actually knocks on your door. Often they will do a 'spot check' outside your house to see if they can detect any noise. they are unlikely to hear chickens in the middle of the day and unlikely to get up reaelly early to check your neighbours complaint! Hope it all works out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Councils have to react to every complaint they receive even if they know there is unlikely to be anything in it. Even sending out the initial letters and monitoring forms incurs a cost and if it gets as far as an EHO having to visit then that costs more, so if the complainant doesn't return the monitoring forms, they are not going to waste money following it up. I wish these miserable old saddos with nothing better to do would realise that every time they get their kicks by phoning up the council, it is us, the taxpayers who have to pay for it in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy's mum Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Hello all My old next door neighbour complained to the council because he could see my washing line from his dining room window (I had raised my line to catch the breeze) I rang the council about the letter and the lady I spoke to was in fits of laughter I just hung my sons "French connection(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)" t-shirt on the line every day for a week or so. Never heard another word My Fifi hollers to be let out every day but my new neighbours say they they really like the sound. Tell your friend not to worry. Some people just like complaining! Julie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Isn't it a sad world where the first we hear of people's "complaints" is via the Council - do people not talk anymore. You would think the first thing the "neighbour" (in quotations as obviously not neighbourly!) would do if he/she had a problem would be to come and have a "little discreet chat" in a nice way The world has gone crazy. Obviously someone of the "Meldrew" type as already mentioned. Can I ask - do people actually contact the Council before they get chickens as all the books seem to suggest - I haven't so far and didn't really want to - a friend in the area keeps them so assumed that the Council allowed it Chooks won't come for a few more weeks although run is underway (slowly) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Hello all I just hung my sons "French connection(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)" t-shirt on the line every day for a week or so. Never heard another word Love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Isn't it a sad world where the first we hear of people's "complaints" is via the Council - do people not talk anymore. You would think the first thing the "neighbour" (in quotations as obviously not neighbourly!) would do if he/she had a problem would be to come and have a "little discreet chat" in a nice way Maybe in a world of road rage and ASBOs, they are worried about confronting someone directly? Especially if the complainant is old or otherwise vulnerable. Can I ask - do people actually contact the Council before they get chickens as all the books seem to suggest - I haven't so far and didn't really want to - a friend in the area keeps them so assumed that the Council allowed it Chooks won't come for a few more weeks although run is underway (slowly) Nope, never occurred to me. We live on the very very edge of the suburbs of Cambridge - from our bedroom window we can see cornfields less than 100 yards away and hear the farmer's birdscarer quite clearly! Practically the countryside, really (though not rural enough for cockerels!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajm200 Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 I contacted the council before I got ours and was told that they expect a certain amount of noise and mess from any animals so not to worry too much. They would only really be concerned if I had a cockerel or if a vermin problem was traced back to my property. They have to respond to complaints but I imagine very few get followed up beyond a letter to both parties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbie26pet Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 ive not had to deal with it yet but i do worry, that one day ill get that, my neighbour next door aint bothered when i see her i do ask if they bothering her, its the other side that worries me she is a old biddy and has her daughter back home and complains about everything and anything, wow if she starts her dog barking will be brought def up, it barks as soon as one foot out door till it goes bk in and its a german shepherd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Maybe in a world of road rage and ASBOs, they are worried about confronting someone directly? Especially if the complainant is old or otherwise vulnerable. Hadn't thought of that - fair point. I just think some times it is sad how communities have changed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pookylover Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 All this has me worried now! We have 3 horses and are lucky enough to rent the fields around our house for them from someone that owns the house down the road (that is rented out to someone else). Our next door neighbour complained to the owner about our horses INSTEAD of coming to us with the problem. When next door (we are detached) moved in they turned a workshop into an art gallery and massage place. They do classes on how to live your life properly etc. They sent an email to the owner complaining and was laughed off as the owner thinks we live next door to a brothel!!! He bascially tried to get us into trouble and have the horses moved. He apologised to us and blamed his mother dying for his actions. This has made me worry he will complain about the chickens when they arrive now too. Needless to say, I am done with them next door even after the apology. There was no need for it. Clare x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Sounds like you have a perv next door. What is wrong with horses in fields? Perhaps you should add a few sheep to baa them to death! Failing that invite some friends with caravans to camp out for the weekend!! Fields = countryside. Countryside = variety of animals, don't worry about the chickens. I did call the council years ago, and got the same result as ajm. One of my neighbours asked me if I had told my immediate neighbours of my chickens and I told her that they didn't consult me when they got their pets (one side has two cats, the other a dog) and all those animals have been in our garden, the dog squared up to me until I ran yelling at it, and the cats constantly fight and knock down the dry stone walls - not to mention spraying and pooping. The people with cats are hardly ever at home, and the other side broke a covenant by having a caravan in their garden, and ripped out a fence and replaced it with a leylandii hedge (slow growing version? My bottom it is) which we now have to chop back. They also allow the dog to run around everybody's front gardens - not nice when it attacked the postie and she had to have stitches and the dog still isn't muzzled. Other neighbours have altered their house frontages which is also not allowed. Apparently we are not allowed to keep livestock - well my chickens are pets, and they will not be great egg producers. I think we'll be fine as long as they don't make too much noise. Coming in this morning there was a sparrow by the front door, cheeping like crazy - deafening! Not to mention the jackdaws, doves, pigeons and the crow - anyone heard a wren - amazingly loud for such a little birdy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pookylover Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Thats actually along the same lines as my husband said when I spoke to him about this, this morning. He said we live in the country so that means animals and noises. The council would probably laugh at him. I do hope so. Clare x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...