'I've been told my noisy cockerels are a nuisance'

6 hours ago

Jake Zuckerman,in Scamblesbyand

Eleanor Maslin,East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

News image — Jennifer Duffield has taken steps to try and fix the problem after receiving a complaint

BBC A woman with blonde hair tied back and glasses resting on her head is looking into the camera with a serious expression. She has a nose ring and a few other piercings on her face and is wearing a grey top with a chicken on it and a black coat with a pink fleece lining. She is stood in a field where two livestock animals can be seen in the background. — Jennifer Duffield has taken steps to try and fix the problem after receiving a complaint

A chicken owner says she was shocked to receive a complaint saying her cockerels were "causing a nuisance".

Jennifer Duffield, who lives in Scamblesby, near Louth, in Lincolnshire, received a letter from East Lindsey District Council on Tuesday stating there had been a complaint about her cockerels crowing in the early hours of the morning.

After taking action to try and reduce the noise, Jennifer said: "We are in the country, what are you complaining about? They [cockerels] are everywhere."

The council said: "We are currently investigating the complaint in question, through our standard processes in line with the Environmental Protection Act 1990."

A white chicken is perched on a wooden post in a field looking to the side. Behind the field you can see a house and another one next to it. — Jennifer Duffield owns a number of animals after taking over their care following her mother's death

The 42-year-old, who owns 15 hens, three cockerels, 12 ducks, five turkeys, two donkeys and three horses, said the animals had been her mother's "dream and love", and had taken over their care after she died.

However, after receiving the letter advising her to "take all reasonable steps to prevent cockerels from crowing before 07:00 GMT", Jennifer said she had already reduced the number in her care and moved her remaining cockerels to stables that were further away from her neighbours' houses.

Duffield said most of her neighbours were "really supportive" and owned cockerels themselves.

She explained there was also a need for the roosters to be loud as they protected the hens from predators in the skies.

"Initially, I was really concerned someone wasn't getting enough sleep but the more thought I put into it the sillier it became," she added.

A man with short grey hair and a moustache and beard is wearing a dark blue coat and black hoody and holding up a letter in his hands. He is stood in front of a fence with fields behind him. — Neighbour Gary Hoptroff received a letter stating a woman at his address named Sarah had made the complaint

Mystery also surrounds who made the complaint, after a letter was sent to neighbour Gary Hoptroff, 51, claiming a woman at his address called Sarah had reported it.

Gary said: "We have no idea, this letter arrived saying that someone that lives here called Sarah has made a complaint in regards to the livestock.

"We've not made the complaint and don't have an issue. It's the country, you expect to hear livestock. It doesn't bother me or my wife at all.

"If you're going to complain, at least have the nerve to use your own identity as this has nothing to do with us."

A man with a black jacket on who is wearing glasses and a shorter woman next to him with blonde hair tied back, glasses and a purple coat are smiling into the camera. They are stood down a lane next to a few houses in a countryside village. — Michael and Gaynor Bridges said people should expect to hear cockerels in the countryside

Eric Cook, 87, who lives in the village, said there was "not a problem" with the noise of cockerels nearby.

"I am amazed that anyone would put a complaint in," he added.

Echoing Eric's thoughts, Michael Bridges, 59, said: "We can hear the odd one but it's just part of the countryside."

An elderly man with grey hair is wearing a black and blue fleece and polo shirt. He is smiling into the camera and stood at a front door. — Eric Cook said he was amazed anyone would put a complaint in about the noise of the cockerels

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