smokiechicken1969 Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 i just wanted to let everyone that sent nice replies about me keeping my cockerel know that my neighbour is adament about me not keeping him!. i have had the EHO out twice now to see the chickens and the cockerel and he has said catagorically that there is no problem. The council have written to her to say that they are happy for me to keep a cockerel at the premises. however i have heard from another neighbour that the woman that has complained to the council is now going to contact a specialist solicitor who can find a loop hole to get rid of him!! does anyone know if there is such a thing? i might go to the police next week and say she is harrassing me. if it goes to court and the council EHO is saying its not a problem surely the judge will see shes just a trouble maker? so mr merrylegs may not be totally safe just yet! cant believe this is all happening over again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 Oh my goodness what a determined neighbour! There probably is some loophole they can exploit but it seems like the council and EH are on your side so I doubt you have much to worry about The lady may not go that far, maybe just spreading a rumour so she scares you, if she does she needs to persuade someone to take the case so is a long way from getting you in court Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 What a sorry state of affairs when people have nothing better to do!!! I wouldn't worry over the silly ol' bat Just a case of too much time on her hands me thinks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokiechicken1969 Posted August 29, 2009 Author Share Posted August 29, 2009 im not a violent person but id like to put my wellington boot up somewhere that makes her do her own cock a doodle!! i am 100% against anyone getting a cockerel if they have neighbours right next door or its a residential setting as the only thing that suffers in the long run is the roo when it has to be rehomed. but this isnt even a hamlet! its an old farm that has been broken up piecemeal. its 3 miles to the outskirts of the nearest civilisation. as soon as the EHO turned up he apologised as he walked through the door as he could see it was a totally suitable location for a cockerel. i dont think its the cockerel she has a problem with its obviously me or she wouldnt be getting a solicitor involved ! i know the problem is with me as my birds are pets. she thinks it ridiculous that people would want to keep chickens for any other reason than commercially! i think she has just alienated 99% of omelt forum users!! and she definately has offended my chickens! im wishing away the weekend so i can contact the council and see what to do next. poor old mr merry legs. hes out there sunning himself with his lovely girls wondering when the sweetcorn will be turning up for afternoon snack time and he's none the wiser that he's under threat again. life is stressful enough, why do people enjoy making others miserable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 im not a violent person but id like to put my wellington boot up somewhere that makes her do her own cock a doodle!! i am 100% against anyone getting a cockerel if they have neighbours right next door or its a residential setting as the only thing that suffers in the long run is the roo when it has to be rehomed. but this isnt even a hamlet! its an old farm that has been broken up piecemeal. its 3 miles to the outskirts of the nearest civilisation. life is stressful enough, why do people enjoy making others miserable? LOL at her doing her own cock a doodle!! I have a cockerel and I have neighbours right next door. He isn't loud, doesn't go on too much and everyone has been great about him being here. The council are fine about it too and I even contacted my local MP to make sure that in the event of any problems arising in the future-I would have his support. I am a responsible pet owner and would not allow him to wake the street at 4am. As for his daytime noise-it is far less offensive than pretty much all of the daytime noises around here! As for people enjoying making others miserable-who knows why? Maybe they are miserable and don't want to be alone with it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barkisland Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 One of our neighbours has a cockerel, and he's no trouble at all - I love to hear him crowing, but we don't hear him much anyway. I can't be doing with miseryguts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 there really should be a damn law to get rid of these types of neighbours! poor you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckielorz2001 Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 Wow, sounds like you have just one 1st prize for having the most ridiculous neighbour! I dont know of any loop holes in the law, but I do know that you are perfectly free to keep chickens, anywhere, AS LONG as they do not attract vermin. So personally that would say to me that she hasn't got a leg to stand on, in my humble opinion! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 If you live in a rural area what does she expect and an old farm too. Very bizarre lady, if she is contacting you directly constantly annoying you perhaps go to the police as you say to get it logged. Would any other neighbours support you at all? We have houses nearby with cockerals and are semi rural but we accept its the countryside, the combine harvesters drone all night recently...but we accept oh good luck keep cool ..at least the council can see that they are no problem indie ps once this is sorted get a couple of barking dogs(jack russells are good) and a honkey donkey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 I don't recall the original thread so I'm sorry is this is out of line but I do feel that some sympathy should be spared for the neighbour.Though she may not be going about it in the right way, and is perhaps being a bit bullish about it, to her it isn't reasonable to have a cockerell. I don't know how close she is, and I don't know what time your chap announces the arrival of the sun but for her, it is a nuisance though I assume you have done all you can to reduce or prevent him waking to early. Sadly things have now got to the stage where a mutual compromise is probably out of the question. The EHO and council have said that its ok for you to keep him so perhaps in a countermove you might contact a solicitor to enquire if there may be a loop hole she can use and so stop her final option in its tracks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 This is a converted farm in the middle of nowhere though, if you can't keep a cockerel there the world has gone mad The lady moved to the country - she needs to accept the noise thats comes with it, we moved to the country from Bristol and it can be noisier here sometimes when the tractors are moving hay and the combines are going full power, there must be at least a dozen cockerels in the village and don't get me started on the noise that comes with the lambing season we didnt realise it could be so noisy in the country but we have never even consdered even muttering a complaint even within the house! If you were putting the cockerel under her window out of spite I could understand her arguement otherwise she doesnt have a leg to stand on I would say that you need to ask yourself honestly if your cockerel is any more of a crower than a normal one - we had one that crowed constantly from 3:30am and he ended up in our cockerel box (also known as the freezer ) if he is then consider a box (not of the white goods kind) or at least ensure he is shut in as normal. If he isnt a pain then leave him to it and let the lady complain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 I cannot really understand people moaning just for the sake of it to be honest. If you cannot keep a cockerel in the middle of nowhere-where are you supposed to keep one?? Tough on her if she doesn't like it. I have no sympathy whatsoever. The world is mad as far as I'm concerned. The sound of a cockerel crowing (maybe not at 3.30am ) is a natural sound yet people have the right to complain and often the cockerel has to be 'gotten rid of' in one way or another. What would happen if I didn't like the sound of my next door neighbours vacuum cleaner? Suppose I found it too loud and annoying-even during the day? What if the neighbour liked to turn it on several times each day? Would the council come out and tell her to use a broom instead? Lawnmowers, strimmers, music, kids screaming and playing, motorbikes being revved over and over, sirens, planes, power tools, drunk people, neighbours swearing and shouting, the list is endless. There are so many sounds-most of them man made. People should have no rights to complain about the noises of animals!!! I know what I would rather hear anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 What a pain But think about it logically - what is the worst that can happen? As long as you co-operate with any legal requirements, the worst that can happen is that you will be told to rehome him, so don't do anything until that day arrives. In the meantime she is costing herself a lot of money taking out a private prosecution. Let her get on with it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbier Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 I think that there was a case in a village in Leicestershire whereby someone had moved from the town and complained to a farmer that the cows were annoying her. Have you got legal advice included on your house insurance? If so, it might be worth making use of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathybc Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 sorry to hear about your neighbour, it must be horrible for you wondering what will happen, at least your boy is happy and oblivious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Beware of the legal system as it's not exactly what it's made out to be. The delivery of justice can come second to who you are and who your friends are (or who your neighbour's friends are). Before you proceed with legal action of any sort, please feel free to PM me. I'm a campaigner, not a legal practitioner (lawyer), but I do have a postgrad degree in law. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokiechicken1969 Posted August 31, 2009 Author Share Posted August 31, 2009 Dear of all of you (cornish expression ) for all of your replies. some lovely comments. ive found out from another close neighbour that the woman that has been complaining has been coming to the back of my property to 'see whats going on'. i have a little cream leg bar chick in a seperate wir as shes nearly ready to go out with the others, but thanks to the excellent advice on this forum i want to make sure she stands a good change of defending herself etc... anyway this horrible woman has gone and told all the near by properties that i have another cockerel in a pen and its crowing already!!!! shes definately got it in for me!! i have looked on the internet as to what is defined by harrassment and i think i will go to the police on tuesday as i have whitnesses' to say she 'is going to poision that blooming bird'. i presume she means the cockerel and not me!!! i have 7 chooks, 2 ducks and a farm collie. if she puts poision down anyone of them could eat it if she did that!! i dont want to have to rehome my cockerel. ever. the council have said that there is no problem what so ever with the location so im going to see if the police can help me. at least if anything happens to the birds when im not here they will have a complaint logged. is there any wonder why there are wars and so much hatred in the world when you see how spiteful one person can be when they take a dislike to you. i dont want anyone falling out on this page about anything i just find such comfort in knowing that there are people out there that are sympathetic. will up date as soon as speak to the police..... thanks everyone xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokiechicken1969 Posted August 31, 2009 Author Share Posted August 31, 2009 ohh meant to add that when the eho came out he said that if it was suitable to keep a cockerel they normally ask people to not let them out before 7.30am during the week and 8am during the weekend. but when he saw the set up here he said i was free to let the cockerel out whatever time i liked as it wasnt disturbing anyone as far as the council were concerned. however, i dont want to be woken up by the chicken equivalent to tom jones at 6am so r merry legs does not make an appearance until 8.30am on the dot everyday, so this neighbour cant even complain that hes waking here up at stupid o'clock. i wouldnt want that myself never mind anyone else. he's coop is blacked out so dark the poor devil comes out blinking most mornings. im tempted to go out there now and rip down everybit of black out and let him sing his lungs out at 4am! i'll just get some ear plugs did anyone read the comment about the wonkey donkey! haha how funny. hmmm tempted.... x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legend21 Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Hi Smokie, good luck with the police, dont you just wish people would live and let live, threatening to poison any animal is diabolical. We are all rooting for you, I wish I was your neighbour, wouldn't it be great if we lived beside neighbours who support us.. I have lovely neighbours. Jackie xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gelbel Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 i have a little cream leg bar chick in a seperate wir as shes nearly ready to go out with the others, but thanks to the excellent advice on this forum i want to make sure she stands a good change of defending herself etc... anyway this horrible woman has gone and told all the near by properties that i have another cockerel in a pen and its crowing already!!!! I'd get some photos taken of your set up PDQ as back up and if you can video even better. And do the same when the chick is being full integrated. the woman that has been complaining has been coming to the back of my property to 'see whats going on' Not that I'd encourage tit for tat but any trespassing involved? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milwichchickenlover Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Your neighbour needs to get a life!! Poor You! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
