Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[jimnpaula]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-29625866

 

[Cat tails]

No cockerels allowed in my municipality. This was decided somewhere in May and any resident cockerels needed to go. One way or another. Only farmers are still allowed their lads.

[Olly]

Eyam is a rural village - I'm a little surprised at this. I wouldn't dream of trying to keep a cockerel in an urban or suburban area and I think it's irresponsible to attempt it, but it seems a bit harsh if you can't keep one in the countryside. Looking at those pictures the hens are kept in a field, but perhaps there are houses nearby.

[mullethunter]

I bet the person who complained moved to the village from elsewhere

[Beantree]

We're from Derbyshire and the Councils can be a bit weird and inconsistent. Serving a notice isn't the end of it by a long way. We've had two served on us and both came to nowt. What they try to do is intimidate you into doing something before a Court Order is sought. This saves them money. They won't tell you who has made the complaint but they will have to if it goes all the way.

 

There is an Appeal Court ruling now that if the nuisance was there before you and you could reasonably be expected to know about it, like your neighbour had chickens but they didn't notice and didn't ask if there was a cockerel before they bought the place, it can't be abated. But so far Staffordshire have ignored it. But then when they get to Court that ruling stands and the case will collapse. I've had plenty of discussions about these cases. One person went to Court and the opposing Barrister said outright the case shouldn't have gone this far and offered no evidence at the hearing!

 

I suspect the Court would take the opinion that in a rural location cockerels are OK, like noisy cows and tractors, anyway.

 

As said, it's probably a townie just moved in that's complaining. I heard in the past that someone managed to stop church bells from being rung before 9.00am on a Sunday!!!