BOXERMAN Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 I received a letter from my housing officer saying i must get rid of my chickens in 14 days. I asked my neighbour if they had complained of course they said no. As they are the only ones to see into my garden i think we all know the answer. I cleaned my girls out every day so there was no smell and no noise. The only time they made a bit louder noise was when i gave them their sweetcorn. My sisters friend is going to give them a new home and will look after them well,plus i will still be how to see them. I wish every one well on this site as i know you all love your chickens as i did mine. Just wait till i win the lotto i will ahave a large plot of land and rescue as many chickens as i can,i am just so sad and angry at this moment in time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 Of course you are sad & angry - I would be too. I am so sorry you have had to let them go & hope you find that house with a plot of land soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancing Gal Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 Oh no why? On what grounds have they told you to get rid of your girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 That is so awful. I'm sorry you have to find your girls new homes and hope you find somewhere with nicer neighbours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlover Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 This is outrageous, surely you can try and appeal about this if like you say there is no smell and no noise they cant just tell you to get rid of your chucks, i had a dog once that would bark all the time even when i was in and they couldnt tell me just to get rid of it, they sent round the enviromental health and they helped me to train the dog not to bark. I think this housing officer is just seeing if he can pull the wool over your eyes and end his problem there.I say FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 How spiteful....can you not appeal? How dreadful for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 Ignore the letter and keep them!!! Dont be bullied into giving your pets away. Ask your neighbor again, explain that you love the chickens very much and it would be awful to give them away. If all else fails then complain about them. Phone your local council and explain. Does it say in your house deeds that you are aloud to keep them? good luck! Dont give up!!!! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancing Gal Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 'housing officer' is it a local authority place? ***** this makes me so angry.... ask them to do anything about noisy yobs or junkies and they do nothing. A few lovely chooks and they decide they have to go and push perfectly nice people around. Blood boiling now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 This is outrageous, surely you can try and appeal about this if like you say there is no smell and no noise they cant just tell you to get rid of your chucks, i had a dog once that would bark all the time even when i was in and they couldnt tell me just to get rid of it, they sent round the enviromental health and they helped me to train the dog not to bark. I think this housing officer is just seeing if he can pull the wool over your eyes and end his problem there.I say FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT Hang on a moment - can they do that? Check that there isn't a covenant or something on the house or lease or whatever, in which case you are stuffed and might as well give in, but otherwise please don't just roll over and give in. I would start by checking out the decision and the decision making process; they may well have not done it correctly. You can ask for all the documentation using FOI (Freedom of Information Act) to get the policies and procedures, and also use the Data Protection Act to get everything they have about you. Then you will know why they have made the decision, who made it and on what basis - and whether they have gone through proper procedures (there's a chance they won't have). They will have to tell you if it is a neighbour complaint (although may well take the details of who out). Then you have something to dispute. For a start that will delay the process no end and let them know that you won't be pushed around. You should ask them who you should see, or write to, to contest the decision. I'd also see if there is anyone else around the area keeping chickens - you might be able to make the case that they are treating you unfairly. Nil Carborundum illigitimus; don't let the ******** grind you down, and don't give in to petty officialdom - or scabby neighbours. Oh, and complain about all your neighbours' bonfires, their dirty windows, their miserable faces and their sheer annoyingness. They are a load of killjoys - and the same goes for the housing man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 You're a man after my own heart Richard! Go for it Boxerman, we're all behind you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James H Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 Boxerman you have got the whole forum behind you, whatever you do, DONT give in, Dont just let the council take you pets away, do anythingtalk to your neighbour and tell them how much those chickens mean to you, dont give in!!!! and dont forget to tell us all how it goes... EVERYONE here is backing you if there is anyway i can help you let me know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 Local Media I'm deadly serious about writing letters and quierying the decision making process. These departments often only consist of one or two people and they think they can just walk over people. They will have protocols that they have to follow and very often they don't. then when someone actually has the nous to question them, they don't have a leg to stand on. A short first letter saying you do not accept the decision, you want to know how it was arrived at and on what basis, FOI them for their protocols - don't specify, just say you want everything they have regarding Council policy on keeping poultry. And don't forget Data Protection for everything they have which has your name on regarding this issue - including complaints from your neighbours. Don't accept that they can't give you them - they can anonymise them. Oh, and copy your letter to the leader of the council and your MP - and while you are at it, honestly, get in touch with the local paper. They like nothing more than a story about an ordinary person being oppressed by the high ups in the council. They may send someone round and you could get some coverage. I can see the headlines now - together with a picture of your chooks. Go for it - please make the effort. If people don't stand up for themselves we deserve to be walked over. And I don't want to live in a Kafka type of world - but we're getting there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 Citizens Advice Bureau might help you - and help you get free legal advice perhpas. I don't know much about them but it would be worth a try if you have the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 Woo, you're on a roll Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 Go Richard, Go Richard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 I completely agree you really should fight this - luckily my house deeds don't mention poultry but if they do it usually states you aren't allowed livestock apart from pets, and in my view a couple of chickens counts as pets, especially ones that live in a fancy eglu, have names and get spoilt rotten! Makes me so angry reading about that, serious do all that Richard has suggested, they wont expect it, and at the end of the day you have to stand up to these people there are just too many pointless rules and regulations these days that target normal people not doing any harm, while yobs are allowed to terrorise people just around the corner. I will always complain when I think I have been treated unfairly, even if it is something most people would just accept, you have to stand up for your rights and people should be allowed to keep whatever pet they want, remind your neighbours you may get a nice little terrier that barks all day and all night for your garden to replace the chickens.... A letter of complaint and finding out all the details is definitely the way to go, at the end of it all if they still say no at least you have a home for them to go to but please don't give in to them, it's not fair Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UkButton Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 Richards absolutly right. Also get the name/email of their supervisor and keep escalting until you have the desired response as alot of the time the dudes at the top don't need the hassle and just overturn the decisions. The media as Richard said is very powerful... and to be honest it'd make the local papers a bit more interesting. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 I completely agree, after writing them a complaint and demanding all that info they'll know you mean business and might not want the hassle of it all as I'm sure appealing is going to mean an awful lot more work for them - they may just overturn the decision and let you keep them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 I agree. You should fight this - it is quite unreasonable. I think we all want to know WHY they say you must get rid of them. How many do you have ? Hazel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James H Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 woo woooo go richard, hes done his homework! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 agree with every comment, especially Richard !! FIGHT for your rights......they are your pets.. if it were me I wouldnt take this lying down. people have rabbits and guinea pigs, aviaries, chipmunks, ferrets, dogs, cats, pigeons etc in their gardens - do they get moaned about???.........NO !!! Your chickens arent the problem - its your neighbours If they say about your deeds....have a look around and see if there are any caravans or boats, commercial vans, high fences - which also sometimes are stated "you cant have" in deeds. I REALLY hope you take heart from all your support on here, we are all behind you. let us know what happens please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 TAKE IT TO COURT!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 (edited) it usually states you aren't allowed livestock apart from pets, and in my view a couple of chickens counts as pets, Yes - thats a good point. I have been told (I don't know the regs) that you don't have to register poultry unless you have something like over 50 hens, so you would have a very good case to suggest that your girls are pets. If i get a chance tonight I'll try to look out some regulations. As you might have gathered from some of my other postings I am a very sad, regulatory sort of person; if I turn anything up I'll let you know. Edited September 3, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 Hello! I can only echo the sentiments of other posters. Don't give up without a fight! Hope it turns out well in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 What reason did the housing officer give for asking you to remove the chickens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
