What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[migsy]

I received a letter from Manchester City Council Environmental Health today as my next door neighbour has complained about "chickens clucking". It said no more than they would only investigate the complaint further if they got any more complaints. All my other neighbours have assured me that the chickens are no problem, but I'm still a bit anxious about it. They have never made noise at unsociable hours but they do a lot of very gentle bokking during the day.

 

Has anyone else had this experience?

[Snowy]

Only about my sons drumming!

EH are usually very reasonable - you get the first letter, so try to do something about it (if indeed it is actually a problem you can resolve). No action is taken until they get a second complaint. At that point, I contacted them and explained the situation and invited them to come along and do some noise measurements. If they still think you are causing a problem, they will visit and make their own assessment of the situation. The worst they will do is give you advice on how to reduce the noise (if there is any).

Don't worry

[scarlettohara]

Some people are just vile aren't they? I doubt you'll hear anymore about it as I suspect the nasty neighbour has had a copy of the letter sent to you and realise nothing will happen, fingers crossed

[majuka]

I can understand that must have been upsetting for you. At least your other neighbours have no problems with you, which should put your mind at rest a bit. When they say unless they get further complaints, does that mean from your other neighbours or a second complaint from the same neighbour?

[migsy]

Thanks for your reassurances. I think they only investigate if another neighbour complains and I don't think that would happen. Fingers crossed

[abwsco]

Does the letter say to ring if you feel it is unjustified? Mine did.

[migsy]

No, but I have sent an email to explain the chicken situation to them.

[abwsco]

Ah, mine said to ring which I did. That complaint got thrown out as the complainee(sp?) lied and said we had cockerels waking them up at early hours in the morning. I also know 99% which vile person it is as he let a bit of useful information slip plus he burst out laughing when I said wife of who I thought it was said that they never heard any noise before 7am!

 

We previously did have cockerels as two out of four hatched were boys. We were hoping to keep them (as they were so friendly and used to run over for cuddles) but when they started crowing and when two complaints were recieved the EHO just turned up on my doorstep. He looked at my set-up, I explained what we were trying to do re the noise and he was happy to go away telling me to get a rat trap as a preventative measure as he told me that is usually the next complaint He did tell me that if we decided to try and keep the boys, noise diaries would have to be kept and then noise monitoring equipment would be installed if we were really wanting to push for keeping them. For us this wasn't an option as we have close neighbours so the boys were culled and we then ate them. Even if we made them go through all this the outcome still would have been for us to get rid of them.

 

That EHO and another I spoke to both told me that there are no problems with chickens but of course it could differ from area to area.

[migsy]

Abwsco - Interesting that they said that there are generally no problems with chickens. Who is your Council? I only have hens and they don't make much noise really, only very occasionally. The crazy woman next door complains about everything. She even went round to the neighbours at the back who have 2 small children and was very abusive about the noise they were making playing in the garden. I live in a nice friendly area which has a good community spirit but I'm afraid I'm unlucky enough to live next door to the trouble maker. I hope I hear nothing more from the Council but I think I will ring up just to get the general feel for the situation from them.

[abwsco]

Migsy, mine is Fylde.

 

Will keep my fingers crossed that all is OK for you and it wouldn't hurt to get across to the EHO what your complaining neighbour is like. They may even know themselves.

 

I did have over a week of panicking about the letter as the EHO dealing with it had gone away

[Krysia]

The crazy woman next door complains about everything. She even went round to the neighbours at the back who have 2 small children and was very abusive about the noise they were making playing in the garden.

 

Is she for real? Ignore her! sounds like she is known. I would contact EH and talk to them, they are fine if you are upfront and honest and ask fir their help / opinion

[norledge]

No, but I have sent an email to explain the chicken situation to them.

 

Migsy.... could you post a copy of the email? I have the exact same issue at the moment and don't know how to word my reply!

[migsy]

Norledge - here is the email:

 

"I refer to your letter to me dated 4 August in respect of my chickens clucking and I would like to clarify a few points for your records.

 

The lady next door (No **), who I understand is called ******, spoke to me in a very abusive and offensive manner earlier in the week when I went outside into my garden to see why one of my chickens was making a loud noise. I would have explained to her, had she let me, that the particular chicken had gone "broody" and was distressed because she was unable to get into the nest box. I have dealt with the broody hen to snap her out of the "broody mode" and she has made no loud noise since that time. The particular noise the chicken was making lasted for about 2 minutes and was at about 10.30 in the morning. The chickens do not make a loud noise at any other time. There may have been the odd occasion when they have clucked if a cat tries to attack them, but the local cats are now quite used to them and realise that they cannot catch them. The chickens make no audible noise during noise sensitive times, i.e., late at night or early morning.

 

After ******* shouted at me I decided to speak to the occupiers of the 2 adjoining houses who back onto me on ******* Road. They told me that they hardly ever hear the chickens and that they are not a problem to them at all. In fact, they said that should ******* make a complaint, they would be happy to speak to you to confirm that my chickens are not a noise nuisance.

 

My neighbours on the other side (No **), Mr and Mrs ***, are very fond of the chickens and look after them whilst we are on holiday.

 

I can assure you that ******** at No ** is the only neighbour who objects to the chickens. Incidently, she also objected when I had my loft conversion done and made an unjustified complaint to the Planning Department about that as well.

 

My friendly neighbours enjoy the odd box of fresh eggs too!

 

I might give you a call about this matter, as it has made me a little anxious."

 

I think it is funny that Mr and Mrs **** look after my chickens while I am away

 

Hope it helps!

[ScottishMike]

Nice letter/email

 

 

I'd be interested to know the outcome. Sounds like it's not the hens that are the problem, but the idiot neighbour

[chocolateeclaire]

I have had my lot for 18 months now but I still panic when they start clucking!!

Today I was out in my dressing gown at 06.30 chasing Buffy with a broom to try and shut her up!!

if I ever do get a complaint it is likely to be the RSPCA!!!!

Claire

[majuka]

That's a great e-mail Migsy. It will be interesting to see what the reply is.

[scarlettohara]

Well done Migsy, let us know when they reply

[mostin]

Well done, that is a great letter, hope it all works out ok

[migsy]

The Environmental Health Officer called me today and thanked me for my email and said it was good to get a response from "the other side". She said that the complainant has been invited to keep a noise diary and if she submits one then they will come out with the monitoring equipment. She said the neighbour said that my chickens are clucking from between 6am and 8am. I know that this is completely untrue! I have never heard them clucking at that time and I sleep with my window open. So I'm not worried now because if they come out with monitoring equipment I know that they won't hear them at that time. What a nasty neighbour I have!

[migsy]

Life is sweet! The lady next door who complained must be glad that I am moving house soon. Today my buyers have asked if I can leave the WIR because they want chickens too!

[Egluntyne]

Marvellous.

[chick wiggle]

Brilliant!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Ha ha . Let's hope they get REALLY noisy chickens .

[poachedegg]

Brilliant Karma!

[migsy]

Brilliant Karma!

 

When the buyers were viewing the house one of them said that she believes in Karma. I certainly do.