A chicken farmer has been told to get rid of his roosters after complaints that they get up too early in the morning.
Cheshire West and Chester Council received complaints from Luke Ormond's neighbors that his flock of crowing roosters and clucking chickens woke them up before 7am.
In 2021 he was told that a neighbor of his home in Antrobus, Northwich, had made a noise complaint because some of his roosters were crowing too early.
Municipal officials visited his home and installed sound equipment, which recorded a rooster crowing at 6:50 am.
Cheshire West and Chester Council received complaints from Luke Ormond's neighbors about his flock of crowing roosters and clucking chickens (pictured)
The municipality has the power to force him to get rid of the herd by issuing a noise notice and considering 7am as the start of the working day
Luke didn't hear from the council for a long time, but received a letter in September claiming that his roosters were causing noise pollution.
The letter contained several recommendations, including installing shutters in his cages to keep out light and getting rid of some “problem birds.”
The council has the power to force him to get rid of the herd by issuing a noise notice and considering 7am as the start of the working day.
Mr Ormond, 28, said: 'They often start crowing at 6.50am but apparently that's ten minutes early for some people here.
'So it seems like there wouldn't have been a problem if they had crowed ten minutes later, at 7am.
'According to their rules, the working day starts at 7am.
'I think that's definitely a piece of cake in the countryside.
'The municipality recorded a rooster at 6.50 in the morning which they claim is causing legal noise pollution.
“I have no control over what sound a living, breathing animal makes, or when it makes it.
'Maybe I'm insensitive to it because I'm a poultry farmer and I've lived in the countryside all my life.
Municipal officials visited his home and installed sound equipment, which recorded a rooster crowing at 6:50 a.m.
'But my neighbors are in the same boat.
'I can understand if someone lives in a terraced house and the neighbors play music until one in the morning, but this is the country.
“We have animals, it's just our way of life.”
The farm worker breeds and sells prize chickens as an additional income.
He keeps up to 100 birds, including roosters, at his home at any time.
Mr Ormond said the investigation has put him under a lot of stress, including taking five days off work and losing his pay to meet with council officials.
“It all takes a huge emotional toll,” he said. 'I'm trying to grieve the loss of my father, but I just can't find space for it.
'One of the things that really upsets me is my neighbors who have complained that they were keeping roosters themselves.
'We used to be on good terms. We used to exchange hatching eggs as gifts at Christmas.'
Mr Ormond has started a protest petition that has already received hundreds of signatures from supporters calling on the council to withdraw the threat to his birds.
Luke's petition begins with the following text: 'Protect the right to keep roosters in rural Antrobus, Northwich.
Mr Ormond has started a protest petition that has already received hundreds of signatures from supporters calling on the council to withdraw the threat to his birds (stock photo)
'I am a local resident of Antrobus, Northwich, UK and have been breeding poultry in my agricultural field for over 14 years.
'This is not only my business, but also my hobby.
'A neighbor recently complained about the noise my roosters make, even though they live in the countryside and own chickens themselves.
'Rural areas are traditionally home to various types of livestock, including poultry. The sounds they make are part of the charm and reality of rural life.
'It is important to note that according to the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), there are no specific laws against the keeping of roosters or the noise they make in rural areas.
'This petition seeks support from fellow residents and fellow poultry farmers to ensure that those who choose life in the countryside understand and respect its nature and community – including the crowing of roosters.
“Let us protect our right to keep poultry without unnecessary complaints affecting our livelihood and the interests of the countryside.
'Please sign this petition if you believe in preserving rural lifestyles and supporting small businesses like mine in Antrobus, Northwich.'
People lined up to sign, with one person posting: 'I couldn't agree more with this.'
Another person said: '6.50am is not early in the countryside, people who complain should get up earlier or buy earplugs, or even better move if they don't like rural noise, like owls in the night, howling foxes or cattle like like poultry, etc., etc.'
Another said: 'I keep poultry, have done so all my life, always had roosters – their noise is no different to any other, like dogs barking or babies crying. Roosters are beautiful birds with a personality to match!'
Someone added: 'They should move if it's a problem.'
Another said: 'Rural areas should be used for the benefit of those who use the space for nature and all that comes with it. Not for those who come to live in an area and want to change it as they see fit.”
And another said: 'This is just part of natural life in the countryside. We love the sounds generated in the countryside.”
Cheshire West and Chester Council said: 'Our Public Protection Team is investigating a noise complaint relating to roosters made by Mr Ormond as a possible statutory nuisance.
No abatement notice has been served, but Mr Ormond has been informed that if we believe there is a statutory nuisance, we are required to serve an abatement notice under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
'Mr Ormond is aware of the above and officers are working with him to implement changes to prevent disruption.'