sharon539 Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 Hi I am very new to this so may have posted this in the wrong place I got my chickens 29th Feb after a lot of consideration and thought I checked with my local council and my house deeds and there was no restrictions against me having them I have just had a letter to say the RSPB have been informed by the council that I have some chickens and they want to come and inspect them and the way I keep them . They also are going to question my neighbours as to wether they have a problem with smells and noise etc. They also suggest I go on one of their courses Has anyone had this done before, also I am wondering how the council know do Omlet tell them or have I been 'shopped' by one of my neighbours Any ideas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 (edited) is someone playing a crafty joke on you do you think? If there's nothing in your deeds etc then the council would not have contacted the RSPB. The RSPB deal with native, wild birds anyway, they have nothing to do with domestic poultry. If anything, that would be DEFRA. **edit or the RSPCA** I think someone's pulling your leg! Edited May 8, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 How rotten! Hope it's all ok. I would check what powers the RSPB actually have in this situation. I hadn't realised they had anything to do with domestic fowl. Also, I would keep a note of any disturbances that are made to _you_ by your neighbours - barking dogs etc. Try not to worry about it. Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 I think one of your neighbours has reported you to the council in the hope that keeping chickens was not allowed.It also sounds like they may have hinted that you're not looking after them correctly and gotten the RSPB involved. What sort of spiteful person would stoop this low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 if i were you, i'd get the phone number for the rspb from their web site and contact them to verify this piece of correspondance you've received, this sounds very fishy to me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 Are you sure "Ooops, word censored!"ody is winding you up? I have never heard of the RSPB getting involved with chickens in any shape or form, and neither has hubby and he works with poultry. I've just looked on the RSPB website - I couldnt see any courses on there either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 ....I've just looked on the RSPB website - I couldnt see any courses on there either. ditto and look at this, it states they have NOTHING to do with animal welfare http://www.rspb.org.uk/about/whatwedo/what_we_are_not.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharon539 Posted May 8, 2008 Author Share Posted May 8, 2008 Hi Thanks for all your replies I just wish if someone had a problem they would have come to me not go straight to the authorities I wonder what the council would say if I phoned them and said hello my neighbour has a rabbit in his garden I know what you mean about barking dogs and there does not seem to be anything you can do about that I will give the rspb a call tomorrow and see what they say I take it this has not happened to anyone else then Thanks Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 no it's never happened to me, in fact I've never even heard of this happening to anyone and I'm sorry it's happened to you. My gut instinct is that this is a hoax. If it is genuine then as long as your chickens as are healthy and well looked after and they're not causing a noise nuisance then I'm sure you have nothing to worry about. Let us know how you get on, good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 Who is the letter from? The council or the RSPB? As has been said above, if your chickens are a problem, the only ones who have jurisdiction on nuisance terms are environmental health, if it's animal cruelty then it's RSPCA. Nothing to do with the RSPB! If it is genuinely from the council, then they haven't a clue what they are on about! (by the way, if the RSPB are running chicken courses they could be inundated - I'd want to go on one!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharon539 Posted May 8, 2008 Author Share Posted May 8, 2008 The letter is from the RSPB They do courses apparantly on chickens,horses and cattle sheep and goats camels and unicorns mmmmmmmm does this sound odd ,unicorns, what would the RSPB know about unicorns I think this is sounding a bit odd now I think about it Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 now I know its a wind up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsm_jones Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 The letter is from the RSPB They do courses apparantly on chickens,horses and cattle sheep and goats camels and unicorns mmmmmmmm does this sound odd ,unicorns, what would the RSPB know about unicorns I think this is sounding a bit odd now I think about it Sharon Oooo......Now I'm DEFINITELY watching THIS topic!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 Now you just need to keep very quiet about this. Eventually someone will give the game away by asking if you've had any problems with neighbours/ the council/ the RSPB at which point you say, no problems, but you are booked to go on a fascinating course about keeping pet unicorns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharon539 Posted May 8, 2008 Author Share Posted May 8, 2008 Not sure who would have wound me up with this one When I find out though there will be trouble I can t wait and I like your suggestion perhaps I could ask if they would like to come along as well I wish I had seen the unicorn bit when I first read the letter it would have saved me a worried evening I nearly went round to my neighbour to have it out with him as well, Do I feel muppet or what Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 Don't worry Sharon, it's easily done, especially if you are a bit anxious anyway about how neighbours will feel - I think we all get a little bit sensitive about it because they are such different pets and some people do have very negative reactions to them. So getting a letter like that would cause you to worry straight away. At least we can laugh about it now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 you gotta hand it to whoever it was, they've got style! I just hope you weren't too worried and upset by it. Practical jokes can sometimes backfire! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilda-and-evadne Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 mmmmmmmm does this sound odd ,unicorns, I need a roll-on-the-floor laughing emoticon. Longing to know what happens next. If the letter appears to be on real RSPB letterhead, who do you know works there perhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 if its on letterheaded paper pretending to be from them I am sure that is breaking the law.. I read that somewhere I'm sure I did... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharon539 Posted May 8, 2008 Author Share Posted May 8, 2008 Stop laughing ..........no I mean it stop The worst bit is still to come Hubby is due home in about half an hour so far all he knows is he has had his very annoyed and upset wife on the phone ranting about wether the neighbours have got in for her I skim read the letter to him but as you know the unicorn bit did not register I just know as soon as he reads it he will pick up that it is a hoax and will just think I have lost the plot completely to fall for it I am racking my brains as to who would have done it Now I look at the paper it does not look that official but I have never had a letter from RSPB to compare it to Oh well at least I gave you all something to chuckle about Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 I would react the same sharon, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilda-and-evadne Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 as you know the unicorn bit I came back to this thread and as soon as I read this I started crying with laughter again. Sorry, not laughing AT you. It's been a long hot day. I just know as soon as he reads it he will pick up that it is a hoax and will just think I have lost the plot completely to fall for it Remind him that this is one of the things about you that makes him love you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 How spiteful. You could tell your neighbour that you have had a spoof letter purporting to be from the RSPB and that when you checked with them they knew nowt about it so the matter is being investigated by the police. Let them stew a little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharonX Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 How funny. It sounds like somebody is having a laugh with you rather than being spiteful though doesn't it. If it was a neighbour wanting to upset you then surely they wouldn't have mentioned unicorns. I would have thought that an official letter would have had letter headed paper with contact details & the envelope would be franked & not have a stamp on it and would have a return address. You wouldn't have noticed any of this to start with though. You must keep us updated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 I am amazed my neighbour hasn't tried this on me already - sort of stunt he would pull. Thank you so much for making me laugh so much - I lost it at the unicorn bit Hope OH was understanding and saw the funny side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
