Noise nuisance

There are no nationwide restrictions to prevent you from keeping poultry, but some individual properties do have covenants which provide an obstacle. You'll need to check the deeds of your property to find out if this applies to you.

The following practical measures may be suggested to prevent your birds causing disturbance to your neighbours:

• if you are not going to breed from your birds, you do not need to keep a cockerel. You don't need to keep a cockerel for your hens to produce eggs
• during the breeding season the number of cockerels can get out of hand. Be realistic and only keep the cockerels you require as replacement stock
• think carefully about the positioning of the poultry houses. Do not place them near to houses if at all possible
• provide the birds with a house where the light entering it has been eliminated as a far as possible. Always remember that the birds will require ventilation in their housing
• lock your birds up at night and let them out after 8am, if possible, to reduce the risk of noise from cockerels crowing early in the morning
• keeping the coop as dark as possible to minimise early morning crowing
• lowering the ceiling height of the coop will prevent the cockerel from throwing back its head and crowing
• sound proof the housing
• if possible try to explain your hobby to your neighbours and invite them round to see the birds. A gift of a dozen eggs always goes down well!
• if a complaint is made try to co-operate with the officer dealing with the case, show him/her what measures you are taking to reduce the noise from cockerels