- Jan 4, 2012
- 98
- 12
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I have had a single rooster for over 3 years. We are living in a rural, agricultural/zoned neighborhood with many 1+ acre lots intermingled with larger plots and farms. Our township turns their heads at the ordinance for poultry, which states you need min 3+ acres for 1000 lbs of livestock, poultry included. It's vague enough and since it's only enforced if someone complains, there are people everywhere violating it. With that said, we had a new person move in next to us this spring. There is about 25 ft of thick brush between us, and 2 right of ways, one to access the fields behind us and the other is access to a 5 ac lot directly behind the complainer, which is currently being farmed and undeveloped, but has recently transferred so could possibly be built on in the near future. Our homes are at a bend in the road so our parcels sort of pitch away from each other as well. We had also have a young male that we got this spring when we bought sexed chicks and got the bonus straight run they receive in their shipments. We intended to grow him out and butcher him around next month along with afew of our older hens. He told us 2 or so weeks ago that the roosters were keeping them awake at night and early morning and requested we do something about it. We have been taking them inside every night into a pen in our basement and returning them to the coop in the morning by 8am or so. With the exception of 4 days, when we were out of town, we have complied. The other day, we received a letter by them stating they were going to call to the township if they hear a rooster crowing at ANY time of day and that his extensive research has turned up a method of choking them with a Velcro strap to prevent the crow. Well. This method sucks. We have had chokers on them for a day or so. This morning it was eerily quiet in the basement and I found out Sid was suffocating. I quickly released the Velcro and he sucked in air and recovered but it scared me. The other rooster also appeared to somewhat be in distress. This is not a way to live out the last month of their lives. I told the neighbor that we would kill them in about a month, when the young one is ready, even though I am friends with the farmer who has the land behind us and surely I could arrange to move my pen to their acreage where it would be 'legal'. We have had a rooster for over 3 years and most in the neighbor did not even know he was ours. The coop is right behind our house and by the time the sound carries it sounds like it's in the distance. We are in the country and in farm land so it pisses me off that he is trying to pressure us on this. If you don't want to live in the country, buy a home in a development or town! I will fight the township to change the ordinance if he at any way jeopardizes our hens. There are 3 houses on our street that keep foul and none of us are legal according to the ordinance. One guy has ducks and they are loud as crap. First and foremost, they are our pets and when we need to thin them or they get old, they are our food. Rooster mistakes are eaten because no one wants a rooster and to waste a life is pointless. I do not want to torture them to keep the peace. It's bad enough they are in my house every night! It makes me sad that people think they can move in and complain and get there way. None of the others around us are bothered, but my roosters apparently causing them illness because they are so sick from not sleeping. Hello Xanax and earplugs???? I have roosters in my freakin house now!!!!! They are normally 10' from my bedroom window! I hate whiners, by the way.
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