What is reasonable time to let the rooster outside?

[GimmeCake]

I wish I could free range but I don't have enough money to buy fences and keep the coyotes out. Last known free range flock in my land lost a rooster and a hen within the first 6 months, that's why I don't free range. But I if I could, no one can complain since I'm living on 2.5 acres of land, where roosters are 100% permitted. And assuming the same rules apply to you, you don't need to not let the rooster free range. So if you can free range, do it! Don't let a sour neighbor ruin your rooter's fun.

May the rooster help her get up every morning.

 

[tofupup]

Oh, that's such a smart idea about just building an extra interior wall 7 feet in from the actual wall, if the neighbor tries to nail me for having the coop/garage too close to the residence. The reason I think Crankypants might make it her business know the actual distance from my house to the garage/coop is that right before I bought this house, the former owner had built this fancy new garage (which is now a fancy huge barn), and I am pretty sure he had to submit building plans to the county, which are (I think) public record.

And Crankypants is controlling enough to know about every single law and regulation in the county. She even hosts county supervisor meetings/parties at her house (or so I've been told), because that's how she controls the happenings and lives of other people in this town.

My nice neighbor who likes the rooster told me that next time she complains, I should just tell her to move back to the city. I think I'll just say that, since I am terrible at feigning emotions and putting up a nice front.

So, thanks!!! I feel a lot better after reading all the input from this post -- both about letting the rooster crow and about what to do if Crankypants tries to file some building violation complaint in retaliation.

By the way, I was up at 5 today and I didn't hear the rooster crow once. By 7 a.m., I was worried that maybe something had happened and went out to check on him, but he was fine, just feeling subdued, I guess. He really is a quiet rooster, I don't see the big deal at all. He's no more boisterous than the various dogs, screeching jays, and hawks around here.

 

[Harrys chick]

I do so sympathise. I only have about half an acre (in England) and I do have neighbours even though I live in the country. Most of them are ok but like you, I keep the boy(s) indoors at night. Here in the UK there is a law from 1950 which allows the keeping of hens or rabbits on "any land" so unless there is a local by law preventing it, even your landlord can't stop you, if you have one - although not a lot of people know this. However, cockerels seem to upset people. We have a small room we built in our garage for my son to practise drumming, so it is fully sound-proofed (the son is now grown up and gone). It is also completely dark when the door is shut and I currently keep our resident (retired) cock Harry in there at night, along with two 13 week old cockerels who crow lustily. I get them up between 7 and 7.30 in the morning. So far no complaints about that although I did have a complaint about day time crowing when we had a cock who never seemed to shut up. If you are keeping yours in at night and he only crows during the day I think she hasn't a leg to stand on. You will no doubt have a local authority or whatever whose job it is to enforce local by laws (ordinances?) and the best thing to do is probably to contact them yourself to find out what their attitude is. I did this and was told informally that they don't really take too much notice if the crowing is at a reasonable hour. I do know that the decibel level has to be taken if there is a complaint, however, so if your neighbour is as far away as all that I cannot see how she could succeed with a complaint even if your rooster was out at night in the barn. I think you need to be brave about this and be prepared for a battle. Law is not hard if you are reasonably intelligent and if she wants a fight with you she will find something to complain about at some point. You have to be able to live your life and you have a right to do so.

 

[billrey]

You asked what time to let the boxed rooster out? Well, 1/2 hour before sunrise. I agree with the bulk of the others here, your in the country and on your own land... be free and let rooster be free.

 

[C1ndy3]

I am surprised no one has advised, so far, a simple visit to your town hall. Go read for yourself ALL of the ordinances that are relevant to your situation--arm yourself with the facts (building codes, livestock ordinances, noise, health codes, etc). Then do your level best to assure you are in compliance. Go a step further, if you are able, with the hedge idea, interior wall, etc. Finally, keep a log of ANY activity (things you do to mitigate, her various complaints, HER noise levels, etc.). IF the day comes when you need to explain your side of the story, then you will have more than mere recollections to offer as evidence of your sincere and specific attempts to live in harmony.

Final note...if you're taking fresh eggs to anyone, let it be the clerks in the town hall. I suspect they (the eggs) will do more good there--and you may loosen tongues to keep you informed of the devil-neighbor's activities.

 

[Hayduke27]

I am surprised no one has advised, so far, a simple visit to your town hall. Go read for yourself ALL of the ordinances that are relevant to your situation--arm yourself with the facts (building codes, livestock ordinances, noise, health codes, etc). Then do your level best to assure you are in compliance. Go a step further, if you are able, with the hedge idea, interior wall, etc. Finally, keep a log of ANY activity (things you do to mitigate, her various complaints, HER noise levels, etc.). IF the day comes when you need to explain your side of the story, then you will have more than mere recollections to offer as evidence of your sincere and specific attempts to live in harmony.

Final note...if you're taking fresh eggs to anyone, let it be the clerks in the town hall. I suspect they (the eggs) will do more good there--and you may loosen tongues to keep you informed of the devil-neighbor's activities.

Now this is some good thinkin'!!

 

[paddydoda]

Been reading all the comments posted firstly I say keep the rooster (which I know u are) then do what I did I asked all the neighbors around me if the crowing bothered them while handing them some fresh eggs which they all love ( now I sell them to them ) they all said no 1 lady didn't even know I had a rooster another asked me '' don't u need a rooster to produce eggs " which I nodded yes and mumbled something in agreeance & the lady behind me loves him and talks to him while he's crowing and she's in her yard gardening the only complaints I get are from my wife who threatens to shoot him every morning so I turned my son on her by telling him that Elvis may have to go to another farm and after his tears and begging she has stopped lol I insulated the walls and put plywood over that an I close the windows at night ( unless its really hot) and never let them out before 7 am so planting trees may be a good option and maybe try to borrow a range finder and find the exact distance between the coop and your neighbors Hse ! Hope it all works out for u and the rooster and tell your cranky neighbor that an Irish guy told her to go $&@? Herself

 

[elizmartin]

I am surprised no one has advised, so far, a simple visit to your town hall. Go read for yourself ALL of the ordinances that are relevant to your situation--arm yourself with the facts (building codes, livestock ordinances, noise, health codes, etc). Then do your level best to assure you are in compliance. Go a step further, if you are able, with the hedge idea, interior wall, etc. Finally, keep a log of ANY activity (things you do to mitigate, her various complaints, HER noise levels, etc.). IF the day comes when you need to explain your side of the story, then you will have more than mere recollections to offer as evidence of your sincere and specific attempts to live in harmony.

Final note...if you're taking fresh eggs to anyone, let it be the clerks in the town hall. I suspect they (the eggs) will do more good there--and you may loosen tongues to keep you informed of the devil-neighbor's activities.

This is wonderful information. I would ad to your log all you have spoken with and any comments at town hall, the feed stores, neighbors good and bad. Make sure there are no barny smells and all road & neighbor visible areas are fairly neat, another reason for planting fence borders besides helping with sound.
I too live on 7 acres but have learned that because of the land contour and trees that the ones closes may not hear my roosters as loud as the neighbors farther down the road. Also changes with the weather could affect this...Best of Luck....eliz

 

[tofupup]

Well, I mean, yeah -- I *do* know the local ordinances and have been to the zoning office in person twice, just to make sure I got it right. The zoning people told me that they will not do anything about a rooster, but that they can't stop Crankypants from making a noise complaint -- which I suppose, as others have suggested, involves measuring decibel levels from the edge of her property.

The last time I went to the zoning office, they also wrote me a personalized, dated letter saying that I am allowed to have a rooster on my property, even going so far as to state that I can have 100 roosters per acre, if I wanted. (The limit around here is 100 fowl of any type per acre.)

So I guess I am just anticipating her filing a noise decibel violation complaint since apparently the other neighbors have let her have her way in the past, so she is trained to think she can control everyone. If it really gets so far that the county tells me he is too loud (which I doubt, since I can't even hear him most of the time) I will probably make a hay-bale insulation room for him and then let him out after 7 a.m. There is no way she can complain about his daytime crowing, because my other neighbor's son has a motocross track that he zips around for hours in the afternoon, and that is way noisier than a random crow every few hours.

So, I think things are under control here. I am not going to be syrupy sweet to her, because that is just not my nature, but I have contingency plans if she escalates things. Also, the rooster has been really quiet lately. .I hope he's okay. Maybe he's getting more quiet as he gets used to living here?

 

[paddydoda]

You should try the bale idea but after that I wouldn't worry about her even if she gets noise ordinance out 1 rooster wouldn't even register on the machine a person like that is just miserable and has nothing better to do so plant trees and forget about her ps I'd put a sign up outside your home " roosters wanted for chicken sanctuary " the ole bat would have a fit lol