NOISE which every day prevents me from enjoying gardening.

This is awful and I could not live next to it. Beryl and I listened to it for about 3 mins and that was enough :o((

There are hens down the road from my house and I can hear them in my garden. I find them very irritating but they are far enough away for it not to be a problem.

But these things next door ? ! - well it's like what they call "Chinese Torture"
NOT a neighbourly thing to do to inflict this on other people

And something that ought to be stopped right now !

Hello Hywel and Beryl ...
Thank you for your supportive comment.
:o) xxxxxxx

'Chinese Torture' came to my mind to... After listening to about ten minutes my 3 year old foster daughter told me to turn it off!... This is bad... Someones got to have the authority to do something for you about this surely! I'm sorry for you Terratoonie x

You're welcome
I hope you get lots of much needed support :o)
xxxx
XXXX

I too listened to it and you know my opinion of action which I would take, mmmm what about a ferret lol.

Thank you Franny .. and daughter ...

sorry listening to the noise irritated you both ! xxx

and thanks Sixpence...

:o) xxx

:o)) X

It is not what I expected (personally I have to say I cannot stand noise noisy ppl cars, Ive never understood why youngsters spend £££'s on big exhausts & other add ons so their car is loud, Id choose the quietest one possible you can barely hear when its ticking over) kids (sorry to upset the proud parent garden lovers on this site) but when the little darlings come home from school alot pass by & the torrent of foul language & shouting, so I do have alot of understanding for your situation noise it seems in some form or other is almost impossible to escape from in todays life, I think the way to go is contact your local council they will probably take readings & take some action, in the meantime how about playing your MP3 or cd plajer via the earpieces some relaxing music to help sooth the nerves.
Good luck !

This 5 point plan might be useful ....

[1] In the dead of night .... creep into next doors garden with a bag of chicken feathers .....

[2] Spread the bag of feathers all over the garden .....

[3] Collect the offending chickens in the now empty feather bag

[4] Remove chickens to a place of safety .... at least 5 miles away to prevent further noise.

[5] You can now contact next door and ask if they heard the terrible row last night ..... sounded like a fox or a cat having a go at their chickens ....!!!!!!

Thanks, Davey ...
Yes... so much noise these days of all types .. :o(

I don't want to wear a head-set to block out noise... that means I can't hear the nice noises, such as little wild birds, and I need to hear if my dog is having a slight throatiness, which happens sometimes following his throat cancer chemotherapy...

Hi Tony.. Interesting plan :o)
I was hoping next door would win the lottery ...
... and move a long way away !!!

Forgive my ignorance but here in Canada we have very strict bylaws regarding "livestock" being kept as pets if you will. If not designated as a farm, you are breaking the law and would be dealt with swiftly. Do you not have the same type of legislation or are you out in the country?
I feel for you. I could not tolerate this myself. How do your dogs react?
I like Tony's plan. I might take it one step further and buy my own fox.
Good luck and wishing you peace and quiet.

Hi Lil...
Thanks for your prompt and useful comment.
There is a Deed of Covenant on the properties in my area ... "No Pigs or Poultry"

In your country, how do they "deal with it swiftly" ?
... do you have to fight it out in court ?...
if not, which authority takes it upon themselves to sort it out ?

My dogs are quiet ... but they are aware when the noise stresses me and they try to comfort me...

Well I started listening to it but to be honest I could only stand about 30 seconds! It's much worse than what we had to put up with at our old house with two hens in next doors garden. I could just about hear the "normal" birds over the chickens. It must be so depressing for you, Terra, to have to put up with this. The miserable weather we're having at the minute is bad enough but to have that noise going on next door tops it off.

If I were you, I'd ring the council and ask to have an appointment to go and see someone about it. I'd probably print out some of these comments too as a backup and remember the audio tape. This can't go on, it's affecting your happiness and, as you say, you need to hear if Conker is having problems.

They say you have to make a nuisance of yourself to be heard so get on the phone/go to the council and start causing a riot! Good luck x

Hi TT

have only just read your previous blog relating to this one.

So sorry.

My comment was meant to be light hearted but this is obviously no light hearted matter.

I really feel for you as we are subjected to prolonged dog barking everytime our neighbours go out - sometimes for most of the day.

As we have a dog ourselves and don't really know what she does when we go out without her, we don't say too much.

I have to agree with the comments about keeping meticulous records and getting the council noise people involved.

Also, if there is a deed of covenent relating to keeping animals etc then the law should intervene anyway if they are made aware of it.

This paragraph may be of assistance

"Deeds of Covenant
A deed of covenant is an agreement where a buyer or tenant of a property agrees to comply with the rules and conditions affecting the property as set out in the Lease.

When a lease is assigned the new tenant normally signs a deed of covenant. This then binds the new tenant in the same way as the former tenant.

Often if the landlord’s consent to the assignment is required they will make it a condition of their consent that the new tenant signs a deed of covenant.

However they cannot always insist on this nor can they always force a new tenant to sign a deed of covenant.

Failure to comply with a Deed of Covenant can result in legal action and even eviction"

I hope you soon find a solution to your problem.

Oh my Terratoonie, this is awful, why is it being allowed to carry on for so long :((( If poultry is not allowed why hasn't the person who made the deed dealt with it? But if you are in the house with the windows and doors shut do you still hear the noise... are the chickens in the house too? :((( Something needs to be done if they are breaking the covenant.. action should be taken, who does one report it to?

Thank you Emma, Tony and Michaella..
.. and don't worry about any light-hearted responses... they are welcome too :o) Just knowing that you also think the noise is unacceptable makes me feel stronger ...

A good thing that I am level-headed and somehow manage to just about cope with that repetitive noise... It has been going on for over 2 years now ..I had hoped the fowl would settle after a while.. but no ...

... anyone less balanced, hearing that repetitive noise, would certainly have taken drastic action a long while ago...

Yes .. it is preventing the enjoyment of my garden... It is not the usual noises you expect from a built-up area, such as dogs occasionally barking at window cleaners, children playing... all these are acceptable and not a problem.

All houses in my road are privately-owned... not tenants ..
and yes, I hear the fowl screeching in the morning when I am cleaning my teeth in the bathroom, and I put my TV on all day when at my desk to block out the fowl noise.

But it is not noise like a booming loudspeaker... That is the type of noise which council meters can detect ... This is irritating and repetitive...like a torture.

Unfortunately, the way the houses are laid out in my road, my garden and house suffers from the brunt of this fowl noise, compared with other properties.. and people don't want to get involved do they... if they are mostly out all day, or if they are old and deaf, or don't really use their gardens as gardeners ... then the fowl noise is possibly less of a problem to them..

... but last year when, unusually, I was outside the back of my property by a public footpath, adjusting a climbing plant, a passer-by asked me "what's that awful cockerel noise"? I explained to him it was the loud fowl noise from next door, and he immediately gave me his name and address and said he would be witness if required to back up any complaints. I was so surprised and grateful that a stranger wanted to help me in this way... he could see that I was stressed by the repetitive noise ..

Just to be positive .... someone in our road a few years ago involved the council noise department due to cockrels and chickens next door .... and they won the case and they had to be removed from the property.. so there is light at the end of the tunnel.....

That's very encouraging to know Tony...
thanks for that positive news ..

That is awful, TT...I keep three little hens and I can honestly say that, apart from the lovely eggs of course, you would never know that they are there...That sounds like a chicken farm! How many are there, I wonder and is it being run as a business? Also, might it not be against environmental health regulations?

Hi Karen..
The reason that I wanted members to listen to the tape before they knew the source of the noise, is exactly as you have described ... some fowl are a LOT louder than others !

Many people keep little hens which are lovely... no trouble and very quiet... I am not against such hens being kept in the right, happy, rural environment where there is no Deed of Covenant...

These are very large fowl... they sound like cockerels.. not a business as far as I know ... the food dishes are not covered so I guess attract vermin at times ...

Vermin, yes (foxes, weasels, rats and mice)...and flies etc. because of all the droppings...and in summer, just the smell...
...I wish you every success in your fight against this, and hope you find the right course of action very soon...

Oh TT, what a racket, I could only stand it for a minute, how do you manage? You need to get on to the people who own the 'deed' and get them over to your house, do you know who they are? Thanks for enlightning us to your cause, no wonder you are feeling stressed. x

Thank you, Karen..
You good wishes are very welcome ...
... this problem has lasted over 2 years ...
I try to be tolerant, and I had always hoped the fowl would settle down, but it isn't happening ...

... getting worse it seems ...

Hi Grandmage...

Thanks so much for letting me know the noise is so unbearable for you too ...

The Deed of Covenant is part of the rules within the Deeds of the Property.... each house in my road is owner-occupied ...

.... but to enforce the Deed is not straightforward :o(((

Its disgusting, absolutley disgusting TT, Why arent the powers that be helping you? If your not allowed to keep chickens in the garden because of the deed of covenant then why after 2 years are they still there! What is the point of it, if they dont have the power to remove the livestock. Unbelievable..just unbelievable..

Thanks for your support Dee ...
It would be easier if the nearby house-owners were also suffering as much as me ... not that I wish this awful noise on anyone !

... but the occupants are made up of non-gardeners, or elderly folk who I guess have very bad hearing, and people who are out all day... I am by far the nearest to this noise ...

I don't mind noises such as children playing, the occasional dog barking... that's what you expect on a housing estate... but NOT screeching fowl, over and over and over ! :o(((

Hi again TT...have you checked out your local government website on the keeping of poultry...if you can prove nuisance ie, noise, vermin, flies, smell...Environmental Health is required to take action...
...plus you have the Covenant...

Thanks, Karen ...
Yes, I could possibly collate evidence on those aspects ...

Sorry, Terra, can't find the Youtube link but do sympathise with you over the problem of loud noise. We live near a leisure centre and on many occasions when I go out to do a little bit of peaceful gardening, I am bombarded with disco music on a P.A. system, so loud that I could join in with the class for free as the teacher belts out the instructions. It makes me really angry, as my garden is my haven, a refuge from life's cares - or it should be. Fortunately, altho' this happens frequently, it is not all the time or I think I would probably go mad. I hope Environmental Health can help you. Good luck.

Forgot to say, I really hope your dog recovers well from his chemo too.

Hi Tet, I think everyone has covered about everything on here, I listend to your youtube and it did my head in, phone the council now and report the chickens, they should not have them there, in our deeds it states quite clearly we are not allowed pigs, do something about it right away, good luck,

Hi Tuesday bear...
The Youtube link is almost at the end of the written part of my blog ... please click on the words GARDEN NOISE .. just above my words "Thank you for listening" ....

I'm sorry to read that you too are having your garden haven invaded by noise... Yes, I do find it difficult that the fowl are there EVERY day... even if someone has a noisy dog, I guess they may take it for a walk or go with it on holiday... but these loud fowl roam all day, every day... :o(

My Sheltie has now achieved over 2 years of "durable remission" from his cancer... In fact he became ill in Springtime 2009, when the next door fowl first arrived, and there followed many months of anxiety and chemotherapy. Conker was a very brave boy ...

The vets can't promise a cure... but Conker looks well and is enjoying life, so I am grateful for every extra day with him... but if we could have a quiet garden without the fowl noise, that would be much more pleasurable ...

TT, it sounds like you live next to a chicken farm. I don`t have the best of hearing but I just could not stand that had to turn it off after 2 mins.
I do hope that you can get something done about it, my heart goes out to you having to put up with this.

Thanks for your supportive comments, Yorks and Stroller...

... maybe if I get enough supportive comments on the Youtube link, I can send that link to the council...

Last year I sent the council man a tape recording of the fowl noise, but he would not listen to it... said he didn't have a tape machine :o(((

I'm been trying various avenues for a long time to combat the fowl noise .... It does get me down a lot at times...
I think anyone listening to that Youtube noise would understand why !

wasnt expecting chickens TT... thought it was going to be a thud thud of music or cars.... we get motorbikes and loud cars here.... i used to keep a few chickens when i lived in surrey and they didnt make a lot of noise except when they laid an egg..... are they that noisy all the time.. how many are there... the enviromental health should be able to help you i would have thought...... thats who i got in touch with when i had trouble with my neighbours.

Hi Holly...
These fowl aren't like normal chickens are they ..

... they prowl around like "guard geese" ...

They make a lot of noise a lot of the time...

If every single screech means they lay an egg ..

... then my neighbours must be getting thousands of eggs every day.....

are they in a pen or roaming around the garden.....

Hi Holly...
They roam the whole of the back garden .. :o(
they jump up on the bird bath and screech like cockerels...:o(

They have a chicken house for after dark ...
... which is very near my garden :o(

maybe thats why there so noisy.. is there a cockerel as well...mine were in a run with a chicken house....
sent you a pm

hi t.t .............. can't find the link !! but take it it is hens next , how many have they !!! do they clean them ........... is there a cockerel .... they are very noisy !!
i must tell you , i do have hens .......... i do live in an isolated area tho , just nasty factories , which drive me mad with there noise , i even had to go across the other day as they gave me a migraine , but they soon stopped !!! but that's another story .........
i never hear my hens , or have foxes etc ........... i have a cat that keeps these in cke ,
i don't understand why all the noise , no one would know mine are there ............ they are in hearing distance at the bottom of the garden .
why dont u phone the animal protection people , as they may be cooped up in tiny place and that's why they make so much noise ..... r.s.p.c.a

cristina click on where it says garden noise...

they are free roaming cristina... i used to keep a few as well and never had noise like that...

ooooo dear posted a coment but its gone , any way just littsend to the link , ans it sounds as if they are playing a recording to anoy you , .............. i dont know why its so noisy , mine dont make any noice at all , if they did then i wud run out to see wot the matter is ............ its does seem repetertive , as if its a tape hun , i can understand a cockral making a lot of row , but hens ................. somethings wrong here .
are they ill treated phone the r.s.p.c.a see wot they say !!! they will go round ........ how many are there ?
as i say no noice from mine at all ..............

Well Terra, I forced myself to listen to the whole thing at full volume & left the room to walk along the hallway, trying to imagine hearing that noise all day and it was just awful! Not what I was expecting at all and just so very irritating. Michael asked what on earth I was listening to, I explained and he said it's noise abuse! To have to endure this all day is obviously very, very stressful. I guess as it's gone on for a couple of years, the neighbours think there isn't a problem. Well, there certainly is for you and you must pursue this to get rid of them ... preferably both the fowl and foul neighbours! I do wish you every success with being able to sit and relax in your garden before too long ... keep smiling ... : o ))) x

Cristina... that's two people who can't find the link...
could you please tell me if you can get to it by clicking in my blog on

GARDEN NOISE,

which is just above the words

Thank you for listening..

there is no problem with the link, I just clicked on it and got sqarking chickens straight away

Shirley... thanks so much for trying to simulate the noise as I hear it ... and managing the whole 10 minutes .. there is no escape for me... day after day... hour after hour ..

I've just done a quick bit of training practice with my dogs indoors (away from the NFH) but I had to let my dogs outside in my dog run for a moment afterwards ... which is the opposite side of the garden to the NFH ... but .. the fowl were noisy the whole time in the next door garden ..

Cristina .. I have seen the fowl from an upstairs window and watched them screeching... so I know it is coming from their beaks/mouths... maybe they are unwell, or lonely.. or maybe it is because they are a large breed of chicken/fowl ?

Yes, it has been going on a long while... that first year ...2009... I was stressed by Conker's cancer, so in no state to have a battle over the fowl... That summer, I did post a letter through my neighbour's door about the noise (of which I still have a copy) but had no reply... I hoped the fowl might be settled by the springtime of 2010, but it didn't happen ... :o(

I listened on Youtube, then I went and stood in my garden because there are chickens only two gardens away, I wanted to compare, I could hardly here my neighbours birds, I very rarely notice them anyway, my son keeps chickens on his allotment so do loads of others near him, they do not seem as bad as what I heard on this recording.
I don`t understand why these birds are continuously making a racket, is it the type ? or is something wrong with them, I`ll be honest I did turn it off because it was getting on my wick, Terra I AM AT A LOSS!!!!!!

terrible noise and im partly deaf Terra but that would drive me nuts, i love chickens but have never heard anything like this before, i think you need to lay heavy on the council as they are not surpose to keep them in this property, its the council responcability to keep estates under control, also have you tried calling the RSPCA and see what they have to say, if this doesnt help go to a free session at a solicitors, legal aid at citizens advice, they all have them, think you get 15 mins free and they tell you if something can be done and also if you can recieve legal aid for the case, which if you win they will have to pay anyway, good luck my friend xx

So am I Lincs, theres 1/2 a dozen hens next door, the coop is moved daily around the orchard and sometimes they're no more than a cars width from my kitchen window and they cluck quietly to themselves ( occasionally one celebrates laying an egg !) but quite honestly the crows are louder! and harsher.... the youtube clip sounded so unlike these I really don't understand.
across the road have fowl runnung free and occasionally we here a cockerel ( until foxy has a good lunch) but its a softer sound that doesnt cause problems. thereagain I'm in a rural setting and the sounds are different--( you should here the donkey) BUT its not a continuous noise....have you seen these birds Terra do you know how many there are... utterly at a loss!

Thanks Lincs, Sandra and Pam ...
I appreciate your listening to the link ..
I'm taking note of all your suggestions and hoping I'll be able to make a definite plan of action.... xxx

Terra, have you considered the Citizens Advice Bureau? Just a thought but they might be able to help and it's free :) x

Thanks Emma...
I shall go through the comments and private messages and make a list of all the ideas... :o) x

TT i'm so sorry for you, i could not stand that noise alday, when i had problems with the neighbours next to me i kept going to the council, is there anyway you can get this noise to the council or like someone said citizens advice, it took me approx 12mths to sort my bad neighbours out, but eventually it got sorted, but sometimes it felt like nobody wonted to help me, you know the sound of that chicken somehow dont sound quite right to me i'm no expert with chickens but it sounds like they have have taped a chicken making a noise for a few mins then just repeated over and over again to get to you, so hope you get some help soon my heart goes out to you. x

Thanks for your advice Clarice..
Yes, it does sound like a tape of a chicken being played over and over ... but I've watched them from an upstairs window and this is exactly the noise they make every day :o(

I wish I felt like I had more energy to fight this problem. xxx

I couldn't listen to that for 10 mins TT . how awful for you , I have had a couple of chickens in the past you wouldn't have known they were there except for their lovely brown eggs ,they wandered free range round the garden . in fact what you have sounds more like a recording turned full on , have you actually seen any hens ? couldn't you borrow somebodies Jack Russel and pop it over the fence ( only joking ! I think ) x

I would contact environmental health ans it sounds to me like noise pollution. it is also ant-social, so why not contact the council also. Try to get as much help as possible. It may help if you contact other neighbours to see if it affects them as bad.

The more evidence of disturbamce, the more likely environmental health and council will have to deal with it. It may be a fight, but it will be rewarded if you can push hard to get peace.

Think when i had problems the longer it went on the less energy i had, think everythink what was going on knocked the stuffing out of me, especially at first as everytime i tried to get it sorted i felt i was banging my head against a brick wall, i know its hard but dont give up, wish i lived close to you, then you could have come round for a cupper to get a little brake and recharge your battery up if you know what i mean. xx

Oh dear that is bad I only managed a couple of minutes what about the noise abatement society definitely contact the council how long have they lived there and how long have they had the poultry?

TT - that is absolutely disgusting and I only managed five minutes of it. How about reporting them to the RSPCA, see if they can do anything, or contact one of those TV programmes 'Neighbours from Hell' or something. I don't believe no-one can do anything about it. I didn't think anyone was allowed to keep any sort of livestock in their back garden, I thought it was against the law because of the health issues. What about going down this route? My heart goes out to you. Chin up, and keep fighting for your peace, you're entitled to it.
SheilaX

Thanks, Amy, Alex, Clarice, Nana.d and Sheila ...

I find it encouraging that I have so many people agreeing with me that the noise is unbearable, and I assure you it is NOT a recording coming from next door... these are real fowl...
I have watched them from upstairs, strutting, screeching ..

Thank you for all your ideas..
When I'm a bit less tired, I'll make a list of your suggestions and see which ones look the best route to go ... xxx

yes t.t i did get on after the 1st coment hun ............... but carnt understand all that noice , mine never utter a sound !!! they are the comon type of hen that i have, i keep mine in a run ............def ring the r.s.p c.a it carnt be right ................x

forgot to say TT, i left a comment..hope it helps, i couldn't say what i really wanted to say tho...mine is the first comment, thats if there's any more :)

Thanks Cristina...
no these don't seem like ordinary hens ...
nobody could cope living near these noisy fowl :o(((

Thanks for leaving the Youtube comment Dee...
I thought it was a useful comment ..
I don't think many people know how to leave comments there ...

Its just the same as here TT, Theres a comment box!

That sounds straightforward ! :o)

Im glad you are getting support from fellow members of GOY, I think I know how it feels.
Many years ago not long after we married we moved home from an infested dirty council flat into a brand new 3 floor apartment block, it was brand new so clean modern luxurious for us & we we happy for a short time anyway it seems they hadn't considered noise as much as they might have.
6.30 am the radio alarm would come on in the flat below 7 days a week often no one was home then upstairs every clunk of their feet every little noise but worse of all the music a deep bass that seemed to shake the walls next door a couple of men lived together one was a dj who would zapp out every other noise with some Elvis the upstairs noise would go by around 2am but always there was anticipation of when the next would start so we moved bought a house !00% mortgage high interest rates I had 2 part time jobs as well as a full time one & no car but stayed there for 20 years ..... maybe reading this has helped you forget your worries for a moment, I hope so.
The way to go is enviromental health, local council call them today get the ball rolling & the day when you can put this behind you will be one step closer.

Hi Davey ...
Living in such a noisy apartment block must have been very stressful for you... lack of sleep... anticipation of when the noise might start up again ... I understand all of that...

I'm glad you found a house where you were happier, even though you had to work very hard to pay for it...

Thanks for your input into this blog :o)

Sounds terrible for you Terratoonie - sorry you have to put up with this - I hope it all gets sorted for you very soon ~:))))

Thank you Paul ...
Sometimes help comes from unexpected places ...
... so I pray for a stress-free answer to all this ... :o)))

Oh TT. Just listened to 'The Noise'. Could only stand it for a few minutes, it was doing my head in.
I would definately not have that next door to me on a daily basis, like you are suffering every day.
I would have to take drastic measures.
Get in touch with the RSPCA. As you said, the NFH are not suppose to have them, so maybe the RSPCA could pay an unexpected visit.
Better still, complain to the Council about the noise.
My neighbour opposite, has had a visit, regarding their dog, supposedly barking all the time. We all knew who reported them, (it was their next door neighbour), but the Council bloke came up and sat and listened to the amount the dog barked, and then gave them a warning about the noise pollution.
Same thing happened to a neighbour round the corner.
He breeds dogs, and I admit they do sometimes yap, yap a lot, but it was a knew neighbour from down the street that reported him. He was given a warning too.
So things can be done, But you need to pester them constantly.
The more times you phone them, the more times the calls should be logged. Hopefully eventually, they will get fed up of the calls, and get off their butts, and do something for you.
You can't go on having this noise pollution indefinately.
You'll end up in a mental home. Sorry to be so blunt, but this would drive me insane.
Please! please! TT! Don't let this go on! You have to keep phoning, and phoning, and phoning......
You already know we are all behind you.
Anything that will help you, such as a letter, petition etc.
I for one will sign it for you. I'd even say I've visited you on several occasions, and heard it for myself.
Keep strong, and hopefully SOON something will be done.
Love and hugs to you, the boys and Crocus. x

Thank you Linda ...
I was just about to sign off for the evening and then I found your caring comment... just knowing I have so much support is a big help... what was making me feel especially stressed was that I wondered if other people would find the noise unbearable.... or was it just me could not live with it, indoors and outdoors, every day ...

So I feel better, now that others have heard it on Youtube...

I'm just sorry that you've had to listen to it... even for a few minutes ...

There MUST be a satisfactory answer to this.

love & hugs. xxx

As you say TT, there MUST be a solution somewhere. Let's hope one of us find one for you doubly quick.
Nite, nite. Hope you have a restful night.
Love to you all. x :o)

:o) xxx

Hi Terra, Ive posted a comment on Youtube too, its easy for us to listen to this on the recording, but to have to endure this 24/7 is im sure unbearable and as you say very loud, constant. I really do hope you can get something sorted very soon, :^) x

Sorry to be so long in responding to your question. Here we would have Animal Control deal with the situation. Upon being reported, they would make a visit and if in fact the law was being broken, they would confiscate the animals and then try to find a "suitable" home. No court involvement unless the owners wished to dispute their finding. You would be out of the picture because when you report an incident you remain confidential so there is no concern with retaliation. With livestock, I'm sure they would be placed on a farm.

Again, good luck.

Sorry TT - I seem to have got the wrong end of the stick! I posted a comment at the end of your previous blog after listening to - what I assumed was - a recording on a 'loop.' It seems to sound repetitive, but you say there are live chickens in their garden. Problem solved - report it to the Council! The NFH must have signed a Deed of Covenant so know they are in the wrong and their thuggy antics are a way of daring anyone to intervene. Take courage and report them.

Thanks Daylily... I saw your Youtube comment... very helpful and supportive...

Thank you, Lil. I wish we had similar Animal Control in the UK...

Hi Nariz... Don't worry that you found the other blog first and thought the Youtube was a tapeloop ... I assure you it isn't ... my friends also see and hear the fowl ... these large birds screech on and on and on ...

Unfortunately, challenging the Deed of Covenant and reporting to the council are not as straightforward as it might seem ... Thanks so much for your support...

Hiya TT,
I'm back!!! And so after listening to that am thinking barbque!! That seems like mental abuse and I do hope you have been able to find someone to resolve the problem! Our neighbour had homing pigeons and in his rental contract it says No farm animals nor non-domiscatied animals allowed. When they found out, he was given 72 hours to remove them or they would. They are gone and so are the rats!!
Lauri

Hi Lauri..
Nice to see you back on GoY ... :o)
Thanks for listening to the Youtube... yes, it is mental abuse.... so stressful...

I'm glad your neighbour was made to obey the rules and that the rats have gone !

You are going to have to bite the bullet, Tt, and if the Council won't take action, then the RSPCA might well be your next port of call. They will investigate, at least - and how about the local press?

You already know that you have my sympathy over this. xx I do hope that someone takes firm action. These people really shouldn't be allowed to get away with it.

Can only describe it as unbearable, don't know how you manage to tolerate it. You have my sympathy and my admiration for being so strong!

Thanks Red Aly...
I'm hoping anyone reading this will add a supportive comment to the Youtube, saying how unbearable the noise is... and that the noise goes on all day... not just 10 minutes .. Thank you...

I just think that those chickens can't be happy, those next to me are gently 'crooning' with the occasional 'squark' when laying an egg! ( and lovely eggs too...)

Yes, I agree Pam..
they seem very unsettled all the time...
would be better off on a farm in the countryside somewhere..

Sorry Sh..
I missed your supportive comment..
Good suggestions there... many thanks...
A plan of action is coming together with the help of GoY ..:o)

Tt - I tried to add a comment to Youtube, and I wasn't able to, unless I register. Could someone please tell us all what happens if you go through that process?

Thanks Sh... I don't know the process re. commenting on Youtube... let's hope someone will tell us...

Regarding registering on YouTube, my daughter says you just register and you are also signing up to GoogleMail also. Hope this is helpful, i used her account when commenting.

I tried to register and it kept refusing my password, so I couldnt do it!! :~(

Thanks Daylily and Grandmage...

YoungDaisyDee has kindly give me a link to a tutorial about how to comment on Youtube.. it seems to have been written by a rather cheeky person, but the information is there... Lol.

You can use it by clicking on HOW TO COMMENT in my blog above...

This is the link which is being used...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fGV09hvYyA&feature=related

Thank you Avis...
I'm going to send you a pm.. xxx

Lol Tt, I chose that link because it was the shortest about 1 and a half mins, The others were 6 to10 mins. He is a bit cheeky but, its great for Noobs, which a lot of us are, especially me lol....

Lol... Dee ...

I certainly need that type of Noob explanation.. :o)
thanks again so much for your support and help.. xxx

Just wanted to say I've left a comment on youtube for you Terra :) I completely forgot to do it the other day, I rushed straight back here to report my feelings instead! You've got loads of ideas to try on here so good luck, I really hope something comes through for you x

Thanks so very much Emma...
I appreciate the support probably more than is realised ...

xxx

I've just listened to the recording on YTube....I can appreciate how distressing this will be for you to be subjected to that repetitive noise daily! As others have said it doesn't sound natural and I think you would be justified in getting the RSPCA involved (along with the local council and whoever is responsible for enforcing the covenant on the property).

I do hope you will soon have a resolution to these various problems with the NFH....it is such an unfair situation. (((hugs Terra))) x

Tt - what's happened? I clicked on your link to Youtube and it says your video has been removed by the user!

I just checked, Thats Weird.. Is everything OK TT!

Thank you Jacquie...

I'm glad you were able to listen to the fowl noise before it disappeared ... so you have a clear idea of what I hear from the other side of the fence... :o(

Hi Sh... and Dee ...
I'm not quite sure what's happened because the Youtube recording was done for me by a GoY member, from the cassette tape I sent ...

Thanks for trying to listen to it, and I'll hope to put a comment on here tomorrow after I know more...

...and, please TT also - Environmental Health Dpt....

Ahhhh i see, maybe he/she deleted it by accident or youtube is playing up, wont be the first time..
And as Karenfrance has said, send the recording to the enviromental health also....

A new Youtube recording has been made ...
hopefully no technical problems with this one...

rather a lot of static but please turn up your computer volume to hear the noise which goes on.. and on ... and on :o(

... and yes, thanks Dee and Karen.. the council will be contacted again...

Well done TT. the new one is up and running and I have it on now as I type!!! Its awful and I think sounds better than the first one. I have left a comment on u tube, hope you get more. x

Thanks so much Grandmage :o) x

x x x :~)

I have listened too ... it still sounds very annoying & intrusive! : o (((

Hi Shirley...

Yes... it was taped on a tiny ancient cassette recorder in the middle of my garden !

Nothing wrong with that! : o )))

I take my hat off to you for surviving that noise for so long. I went on the internet to see whether hens/chickens are normally noisy. Whether in UK or USA the message seems to be no more than your average dog, if that. The exceptions are cockerals which are banned in some places because of the noise. The other noisy option is the battery hen. Since the latter does not apply in your case, we hope, and the former could be dealt with by getting rid of the cockeral - you do not need a cockeral to produce eggs - their function is to fertilise the eggs so the owner can breed from his flock, I wonder if this is what is going on next door to you.
I think since the local council official has been dismissive of your complaint so far and refused to listen to your tape recording I would phone the RSPCA. You would then have an independant witness whose only concern is for the welfare of the poultry. He/she would hear the noise and even if he finds the birds are being cared for in an adequate way he could back up your version of the noise.
A visit to citizens advice where you can see a solicitor free of charge, with a copy of the tape and the name of the RSPCA inspector, might see them write to your neighbour pointing out the distress he is causing. If they fail to get any action they may then get the local authority involved. They may even be able to verify whether this is a recording or real birds making this noise. Playing that to them would keep them in a constant frenzy and cause the birds to react by making a noise themselves. I cannot see what good this is doing the hens because I would think it might put them off laying.
In addition if you have a copy of your title deeds with you when you go along you can prove there is a covenant saying no pigs or hens allowed. I was appalled at the constant racket. My family kept free range hens, ducks and turkeys when I was a child. In this house both we and our elderly next door neighbour kept hens and we never had a noise like this to put up with. I sincerely hope and pray that you do find a solution very soon. We all support your right to live in peace.

Thank you Scotsgran for your research on my behalf..

When these large-size fowl first arrived and were so noisy, I hoped they would settle in time. It didn't happen. In fact yet another large bird was added... and then a Rottweiler type puppy, was acquired, which, understandably, thought it a good game to often chase the birds, causing even more fowl noise.

Enough is enough... Deeds of Covenant are made for a reason ... They are in place because history has shown that keeping poultry in unsuitable built-up areas creates unhappy, noisy fowl, and can also attract vermin such as rats.

I will take on board all your suggestions.. Thanks again.

TT, I've read most of the comments. I just wanted to say I sympathise...terrible noise, terrible smell and attract vermin too. I agree with everyone....complain to the council, to the RSPCA, and if you don't get anywhere with them, go to the CAB and get advice from them, and to your MP also.

Happy hens don't generally make too much noise. They cluck a bit and they do call when they lay, but this sounds like incessant calling and crying out. These hens sound distressed to me, and the behaviour you describe would seem to suggest that also. It may be because of Conker and Truffle....the hens smell the dogs perhaps and don't feel safe.....in any case that is not your fault or your problem, but if the hens are distressed then the RSPCA will have something to say about that. They will undoubtedly attract vermin and your council should support you in that matter as well. Pity you don't have a Jack Russel. Molly would be over that fence in a flash and pick one for her dinner every day!! Sorry...so awful for you. Don't put up with it any more TT the bottom line is they shouldn't be there....and even if nobody else wants to do anything about it because they are afraid or just don't care.....you be brave and take it on TT (easy for me to say! ;) :(( Our previous neighbours used to keep ducks in their back garden...tiny back garden, total mud bath with the ducks, but to be honest they never bothered me much...didn't make much noise at all. I agree with you, it's the nature of the noise, the repetitiveness of it ...and it really makes you jump doesn't it......totally exhausting!

Hi Karen...
Thanks for your detailed comment ..

There is a Rottweiler type dog which lives in the same garden as the poultry, and the dog sometimes chases them and upsets them.

My dogs have their run on the opposite side of my garden, away from the NFH, and my dogs are not noisy at all, and there is another fence I've constructed between my lawn and the 5/6ft high fence of the NFH, so my dogs are always at least,say, 3 metres away from the solid fence behind which the fowl roam, and my dogs are usually even further away than that.

I feel sorry for the fowl which are large types and would surely be happier in a countrified environment... I do fear that rats are around, because there is often loose food left out next door....

Thanks again :o)

Yes, sorry TT, I forgot about the rotweiler! Surely the RSPCA would have something to say about that! As homebird says....good luck! :))

Thanks Homebird and Karen for your thoughts...

Not very many fowl there...
but they are amazingly LARGE with proportionally LOUD squawking ...
They remind me of guard geese, prowling around the whole garden ... screeching when they hear any slight noise in a nearby garden ...

I have a photo of one of these large birds standing up high on the garden bird bath screeching over and over like a cockerel .. I just wish I could have taken it as a video...

I can tell how much this is affecting you Terra...we are all rooting for you! :))

Thanks. x :o)

Oh! TT, this isn't geting any better for you. I agree you need to get everyone involved, the RSPCA sounds like a very good idea, the birds definitely can't be happy to make this noise.
You need some help as it will affect your health having all this nuisance. Hope you get a solution soon.

I could only listen for a few mins it was so bad, please do take note of the advice that has been given on here, it is not right or legal, I do feel for you.

We live in the middle of allotments as it was farm land once and quite a few allotment holders keep chickens, but they had to get permission and are not allowed cockerals and we have never ever heard noise like this before.In built up areas as many chickens that seem to be there should not be allowed.The council in this area are very strict about these things and apart from noise abatement there must be an environmental issue here. Good luck. I hope you win this.

Thanks Bob, Dotty and Rose ..
for your advice and good wishes...

I'm doing my best to find an answer to all this ...
... a peaceful garden with only normal neighbourhood sounds ... blackbirds, children etc... would be nice ...

What a shame you dont live round here, the foxes would have had them straight away! I hope at least you get some eggs out of it.
Sue

Hi Sue...
No foxes around here apparently ...

The other day my friend visited and the fowl were squawking as usual ... on ... and on ...

... he commented that chickens usually only made that much noise when laying an egg...

If that is the case, then next door should have enough eggs to supply every Tesco, Asda and Sainsburys across the land... !!!

... no, I've never seen an egg from these fowl...

Sometimes chickens make this noise when they're distressed about something... so maybe like people have said there is something wrong. Our hens occassionally make this noise (luckily we have no neighbours), but only for about ten minuites or so and certainly not every day!! Generally mum or I will go out to check theres no nasty beasties scaring them, and to try and quieten them down. Sometimes I think one of them lays an egg and the rest of them get carried away by it! So I know how loud this can be! 99.5% of the time ours are quiet as mice, so if this noise disturbance is going on all day then surely something must be wrong with them.

Do as people have said and call the RSPCA or the Council or the Environmental Health Agency or something and try and get them to do something. Even if they don't pay attention at first, keep on trying, because unless you tell them about it, nothing will be done about it. Maybe take the phone outside with you and get them to listen in! Most people if you tell them you're experiencing chicken noise might not take you seriously because they won't realise how loud it can be. Hopefully if you're persistent something will eventually be done about it.

... maybe if you complained about a rat problem they might pay more attention ;)
... or enlist the help of someone really forceful to do the phone talking for you...

anyway, i hope you somehow get it sorted out one way or another! It must be incredibly frustrating and wearing :(( but as you can see, there are plenty of people behind you.

Watching the news for the past few nights one thing coming across is people fearing repercussions if they report problems and the perpetrator finds out. If you have those sorts of fears they need to be explained to whoever you choose to complain to. I am sure there are ways of dealing with this problem without needing to involve you.

Hi Jennyfer...
Thanks for your thoughtful and informative comment ...

As with any creatures... these fowl have some days when they are noisier than others... but there is never a day when they are completely quiet...

I don't understand why they need to be so noisy ...

Scotsgran...
Thank you ...
I am the one nearest to this noise, so I would be the target if there were repercussions ... During the recent riots, I felt sorry for those vulnerable people in homes and shops nearby ... I know what it is like to be near thoughtless, aggressive people.

But if as scotsgran said you could get them to deal with it without saying it was you.... i'm not a big fan oh dishonesty, but if you could get them to say vaguely that they'd had reports from passersby (like that nice man who said he'd act as witness... obviously other people must have heard it too), then maybe you wouldn't have to be involved? Afterall, if you've put up with it for two years and not said anything, they might not neccessarily think its you? Probably a long shot, but I don't see how it will stop if no-one does anything, they shouldn't be allowed to get away with upseting your life like they do.

thats awful TT, i couldn't listen to it and i'm half deaf! Must drive you mad, hope you can sort something out if its not allowed how are they getting away with it?

Hi Skilla ...

Thanks for listening ! :o(((
My friend visited last week and he is half deaf, and he couldn't stand the noise !
It is 1pm on a Sunday afternoon, and I would like to work in peace in my garden with just the "normal" noises of a housing estate.... children playing etc...

... but the poultry just scream....
those fowl can't be happy...surely ?

I've come indoors and put on my TV, just to escape from the fowl for a while ... the NFH have now put their radio on loud as well... right by my house and garden ...

Hello Jennyfer..

The NFH are well aware of the fowl noise spoiling my enjoyment of my house and garden... I wrote them a "friendly" note two years ago, of which I still have a copy, explaining that the fowl noise was unacceptable ... but the NFH didn't even reply ...they just laugh ..

... and I guess other neighbours are afraid of the NFH...

to be honest, if you wrote two years ago they've probably forgotten. Maybe a 'friendly' reminder is in order? x

hi Terratoonie, i was just browseing the blog's & found one of yours about garden noise( july).I have just listened to 2 mins of it,( that was enough).We have a fair bit of industrial noise & are very close( @ the bottom
of the garden) to a railway line taking coal to the power station.We also have a plant hire firm on the other side of the railway line,5mins walk away, they test their chain saws out 5 days a week,but we know when it's going to stop.Industrial noise & trains can sort of blend in & after 20yrs of it, we can totally ignore it,BUT the noise you have to put up with,NO WAY i could not stand that day in day out, as much as i love animals, they do not belong in a garden ,how have you put up with it, you've got my full admiration. lol smurf xxx.

Hi Smurf ...
Thanks for your input into this blog.
Yes ... some noises we accept or adjust to ....

...around my gardens there are neighbours' children playing, terriers yapping now and then, and occasional power tools... all the kinds of noise you expect to hear, living close to other people ...

.... but Deeds of Covenant are made for a reason ... and, historically, the unacceptable noise and the vermin problems caused by fowl living on housing estates have led to rules being put in place ... "no pigs or poultry" ...

I'm pleased to report that recently there have been some developments which have improved the situation, and hopefully will be better for the fowl also... but until I am sure of the situation for the future, I can't really say more at this stage...

Lately, there have been some quieter days, and I've thoroughly enjoyed gardening in the sunshine ... bliss
:o) xxx