Rooster complaint from Snobby Uptight Neighbor in Epping, NH

[Jody]

Quote:
That's just it, he's complaining about him crowing in the middle of the day too... He even commented about goat bleating saying he's "tolerating" it and they only bleat during day time.. So, if I keep him in til 7am and in at night, he shouldn't be crowing if he don't see the sun, right? Even so, the coop would muffle the sound a little too..

It is my understanding that noise ordinances typically refer to after hours.. IE after 10pm before whatever am, etc.. Is this correct? If this is the case, does this guy have any legal recourse, etc to push the issue regarding animal sounds during the day time assuming I have the rooster inside til after whatever hour is stated in the noise ordinance?

 

[Jody]

Oh my god that is so funny. I googled up Epping, NH Noise Ordinance and this thread is the first result, lol

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=Eppi...+noise+ordinance&gs_rfai=&fp=8631cdd35a4d476d

 

[Whitewater]

In my city, noise ordinances are enforced 24/7/365. Doesn't matter whether it's a car's stereo blaring at 3pm or a gang of teenagers shrieking at the top of their lungs for no good reason at 3am (when questioned by the cops, their answer? "Just because we can" . . . cop informed them and their parents about the noise laws and the curfew for minors and so far this summer, unlike last summer, shrieking teens aren't an issue!)

I really strongly urge you to go find your local noise ordinances and read up on them. Maybe it is only after 10pm. Maybe they're 24/7. Right now, you are making a lot of assumptions, and you know what they say about those!

You can bet that if you cheese your neighbor off severely enough, *he* will have found and read the law -- don't play catch up!

I would also advise you to be willing to compromise right now so that you don't get slapped with one or more citations and fines and so on after the fact. The city will be much less willing to work with you.

And personally, from my POV, even if each lot were an acre, that's still not a whole lot of room and roosters are LOUD. If my neighbor had a rooster crowing at 4:30am, I would have already called Animal Control.


Whitewater

 

[speakup4kids]

After going and reading what I could from the Epping code as well as building plan I think that you have the city on your side with this one. It seems to me like they are really trying to preserve agriculture in Epping. There are several statements saying just that throughout the code and more restrictions on industrial business than agriculture. I would just keep doing what you are doing and let your neighbor whine.

 

[redhen]

UGh.. first thing i'd do is get RID of those Guineas... They are SO loud.. Way louder than roosters.
I cant even stand them... and i have 3 roos!
If roos are allowed where you live, i'd keep my roo.. but not let it out so early to avoid problems.....

 

[theFox]

If you are zoned industrial/agriculture your neighbor is very likely SOL, you might also check the state statutes for the existence of a right to farm law.

Between your zoning and most right to farm laws your neighbor is peeing both on an electric fence and into the wind.

I also despise uppity neighbors, I've had two.

One who for some reason wouldn't keep their dog on their property. Long story short they got its poop back.

The other one decided to put a dog house up against our garage (well onto our property), long story short the stockade fence piece that was between the garage and the rest of our fence got removed allowing their dogs to escape AC got to the dogs before they could (funny that). A few repeats and the dogs were gone.

Having said that you might want to check into the allowed numbers and types of animals you are keeping on that lot because it is possible that you might run afoul of sanitation laws governing manure.

 

[Jody]

Quote:
Can you PM me the links? I still haven't found the codes/ordinances online.


Quote:
I just googled it, and yes, NH does have a Right to Farm law.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2000/HB0097.html


As for the Buff Orp. roo, I don't mind getting rid of him.. as for the Guinea, I bought them yesterday, so would have to find a buyer, but no way am I giving up my Sebright roo, nor any other animals. Neighbor don't know about the Sebright roo yet because he's inside and not crowing yet, nor does he know about the Guinea because I just got them yesterday and they're really quiet.. not a peep out of them.

I wanted roosters around here so I could breed, etc.. I wonder, if this did escalate and I argued that my chickens are raised for food and I need the rooster for breeding, if I would win, noise ordinance aside..

I'm curious now if the Right to Farm law exempts roosters from noise ordinances.

I don't particularly want to fight this because of the one roo that prompted complaint, but wish to know and look into it for future reference because I really did want to breed and hatch chicks, raise some for meat, etc

 

[Joz]

See if this has your local code?

http://www.municode.com/library/library.aspx

 

[NYREDS]

I wanted roosters around here so I could breed, etc.. I wonder, if this did escalate and I argued that my chickens are raised for food and I need the rooster for breeding, if I would win, noise ordinance aside..

You raise Sebrights for food? Sounds like a hard sell to me.

I don't know you or your neighbor but with your recent addition of Guinea Fowl it sounds to me like you're going out of your way to annoy your neighbor. Guineas, btw, will not stay inside a fenced area. If you are planning to free range them as well they'll be in your neighbor's yard.

You said you have less than an acre. I doubt if the state Right-To-Farm laws would apply to you.​

 

[Chickenmaven]

Neighbor issues are so touchy. People get all worked up & draw lines in the sand, threaten eachother, etc. It is just not worth it. Don't go there! Although, you have the right to have a rooster in an open coop at 4 a.m., it does not make it the right thing to do - IMHO. To be a good neighbor, you should respect that no one wants to hear your pet in the middle of the night. If your neighbor's dog was making a racket at night, how would you like that?

I live in Michigan, so our "hot" summer is likely as warm as yours... Really not too terrible. I vote: Shut the coop. Keep the Peace.

Another thing: You ask why this person would think they can tell you what to do. Well, you openned the door to that when you went door to door asking neighbors if a rooster would be okay. You asked them to approve your actions. Now they think they have a say in things. I know you were trying to be nice, but you kinda openned yourself up to this.