Busted by the council

Fleur · **Joined:** Fri Sep 07, 2012 2:52 pm **Posts:** 24

I found out yesterday that my new neighbours have complained to the council about my roosters doing their thing at ungodly hours. While I understand their concerns I am mightly annoyed they did not come to me first with their issues (way to make new friends in a small town!). So now my boys have been given an eviction notice however I am planning on at least attempting to keep them.

Any ideas on how to keep down their vocal morning enthusiasm would be greatly appreciated (as would a shovel and bag of lime for the neighbours).

Cheers:D

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

Sorry to hear about your neighbours.

Many people box their roosters up at night, you make a wooden night box not much bigger than the rooster itself, it doesn't work for everyone. Others keep their roosters in a room overnight but generally speaking you'll find that you'll need to keep him quiet from 7pm to 7am to keep council and your neighbours happy. Find out your local laws on keeping roosters too, you might find that there is a number restriction or acreage restriction on how many you can have.

Hope it all works out for you.

Fleur · **Joined:** Fri Sep 07, 2012 2:52 pm **Posts:** 24

Thank you:) I will try locking him up at night though I was concerned about ventilation and keeping him from his lady friends.

While we are a small regional town we still have zoning regulations which ban roosters in built up areas (bad me) so I guess I should consider myself lucky for getting away with it for so long. Arrgh, nah bugger it, I am still going to hate on these newbies for a bit longer :oops:

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

He'll be fine away from his ladies overnight. You may be able to keep him if you show the council you've taken steps to curb his crowing. Night boxes shouldn't be much bigger than the rooster and you'll have to leave some ventilation holes or alternatively lock him in a dark room ie the bathroom or toilet overnight as long as he can't see any light he shouldn't crow (at least that's the idea)

Brownie · **Posted:** Tue Sep 11, 2012 3:54 pm

Most councils don't allow roosters on less than a few acre block now. In our country town 10 hens is the limit and no roosters without a permit. You can apply for a permit, but possibly won't get one now if you've been sprung for having them against local laws.

I don't know if it's right but someone else may know - is it true that keeping a rooster in a low box or cage overnight which doesn't allow him to extend his head to normal height and certainly not high enough to crow will stop the crowing?

b-m · **Posted:** Tue Sep 11, 2012 6:03 pm

I have tried it last night. The box was quite low, but he still crowed a bit.

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

Some try the box and it works, some elevate the perch in the coop so the rooster can't stand up properly as he normally takes the top perch, some nothing works.

wickedwings · **Posted:** Tue Sep 11, 2012 7:25 pm

I don't reckon a high perch or a crow bar works, my rooster is practically horizontal when he crows.

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Tue Sep 11, 2012 7:31 pm

Are you allowed roosters? If not it maybe a losing battle with neighbours and the council. Permits are expensive and subject to neighbour's approval, most times you have to submit a plan of your existing chook accommodation, if that is too close to your neighbour's boundary fence then they would probably fine you over that when they come out for inspection, throw in the fencing you may have or not have and more fines, maybe a very expensive fight if you aren't allowed them in the first place.

Think about why you have roosters and if you are permitted to have then in the first place. Neighbours can make your life miserable over your boys, they probably have feral children, cats or dogs that makes them want to have a go at your roosters. My neighbours complained to me first, threw all the local anti rooster by laws and fines at me and well in the end I was fighting a battle that we could not financially afford.

Our rooster is happily relocated on a farm now, he made less noise and caused no damage compared to the feral kids, cats and dogs.

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Sadly roosters have no rights even in country towns

Neighbours can be horrid

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