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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be sick of being woken up at 5am by neighbours cockrells!!!

33 replies

123andaway · 17/03/2009 12:11

The man next door but one has recently aquired a large coop with about 10 chickens, and 2 cockrells.

We live in victorian terrace houses, with a longish, thin garden, in the middle of town.

The chickens well cared for, and wouldn't be a problem, except for the racket the cockrells are making at 5am.

AIBU to think that keeping cockrells in the middle of town is a really STUPID idea.

OP posts:
dmo · 17/03/2009 12:11

poor you it would drive me mad

ZoeC · 17/03/2009 12:12

You could try reporting the cockerels to the council regarding the noise, they might consider them in breach of noise regulations.

Niftyblue · 17/03/2009 12:14

have you spoken your neighbour about it?

smee · 17/03/2009 12:17

We had this over a year ago - drove me mad + all other neighbours too. I called the council, they said most definitely qualifies as a noise nuisance. Completely ridiculous in a built up area, anti social, etc, etc. I didn't call them in to deal with it, as I had a chat with the neighbour who we get on with, and he agreed to get rid. He doesn't actually need cockerels if he has chickens. They'll still lay eggs if that's what he's after. Try talking to him first, then get onto the council.

Original poster
123andaway · 17/03/2009 12:21

I will have to go speak to him won't I, Im a bit chicken . I feel really bad as he's an elderly chap on his own, and is clearly putting a lot of effort into his chickens. Fortunately the kids are sleeping though it.

OP posts:
HSMM · 17/03/2009 12:23

I think he is supposed to get permission from the council before keeping chickens (I think). Have a chat with the council and say you are happy with the hens, but not the cockerals. There may also be some way he could put them in a black out overnight, so they do not crow as early?

smee · 17/03/2009 12:26

Our neighbour tried that - ie putting them into a darkened space. Didn't work at all. Nice thought though!

TheGashlycrumbTinies · 17/03/2009 12:29

The cocks will also start crowing earlier and earlier, last year they started about 3.30 in the height of summer.

mistlethrush · 17/03/2009 12:32

If you shut them into a house at least the noise is not so direct, and is somewhat muffled by the construction of the building itself... I know. I used to have bantams - and it was really obvious on the odd occasion that we forgot to shut their hen house door at night.

choochoochaboogie · 17/03/2009 12:36

You are going to have to talk to him first and then go to the council. You can't be the only one it is affecting.

Be brave!

Or failing that get an airrifle thick pair of earmuffs and a high power waterpistol, knock the blighters off their perch

LauriefairycakeeatsCupid · 17/03/2009 12:38

I have chickens in a Victorian terrace in the town centre and you don't need permission to keep them. You are deinitely not allowed to keep cockerells cos I asked.

Also as it gets lighter they will be waking you at 3.30am

which I'm guessing you won't like

smee · 17/03/2009 12:39

I'd bet he'll say 'You'll get used to it' - that's what my neighbour said at first. But then he got a petition from the estate at the back pushed anonymously through his door. The wording of which was pretty strong, though non-threatening. I think talk nicely, but maybe get a few opinions from other neighbours first to back you up.

Maria2007 · 17/03/2009 12:41

I'm sorry, I had to laugh reading this! Kind of surreal to be woken up by cockrells in the middle of the city! By the way. Do you remember there was an episode in Sex & the city about this exact thing?

(I don't think YABU by the way).

Original poster
123andaway · 17/03/2009 12:46

I'm going to go with the waterpistol idea. I'll buy the kids balaclavas and have them snipe them from the bedroom windows! They will get extra pocket money for each direct hit

OP posts:
smee · 17/03/2009 12:48

Ah but do you really want your little darlings up at 3.30am ready for action..

Original poster
123andaway · 17/03/2009 12:51

Hmm good point smee!

OP posts:
Umlellala · 17/03/2009 13:06

I have this too. We live in Hackney

smee · 17/03/2009 13:07

So do I Umlellala - call the council noise people, honestly they told me they'd sort it when I called.

littlefrog · 17/03/2009 13:16

I asked the council about this (had mad plan to keep chickens and various other animals in town once upon a time) and the man there said that cockerels DO count as a noise nuisance, but that what you need to do about it is to make sure that they are kept in a low coop. Apparently they can only crow if they can stretch their necks, and if the ceiling is too low then they can't do it. A suggestion for your neighbour, perhaps?

branflake81 · 17/03/2009 14:00

There's a small holding at the end of my (terraced, Victorian, urban) street that has cockerels. They do crow a lot unfortunately. It doesn't bother me as I don't mind getting up early but I have often wondered if other people haven't complained, especially when the dog joins in!

duchesse · 17/03/2009 14:09

I always worry about my cockerels and we live in the back of beyond. Fortunately though most of our neighbours are dairy farmers who are already crashing around in JCBs by 4:30, around the time my feathered friends start their racket. I have repeatedly asked my neighbours if htey are bothered but they always say no. Maybe your neighbour chap is a little deaf and doesn't realise how loud they are? Agred he doesn't need cockerels for the hens to lay but maybe he is breeding them? If he shut them in a completely dark coop until 7am they probably wouldn't start crowing until then. Any chink of light or crow from someone else's cocks and they;re off though.

mistlethrush · 17/03/2009 14:55

One of my hens took up crowing when we were cockerell-less for a while although it was a very peculiar, rather squeeky version

smee · 17/03/2009 14:56

Yes, but even 7am at a weekend is offensive to many - not everyone's got small people who get up early after all.

ForeverOptimistic · 17/03/2009 14:58

I love the sound of cockerells crowing. I would actually like to be woken at 5am by the sound of them!

LastOrders · 17/03/2009 15:01

Excuse the pun, but can you eat cocks?

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