[doganjo]

I went over to a neighbour with eggs today and casually asked if they heard my dogs as I know they were making a lot of noise today - no idea why!  Anyway, Archie said, No, never hear your dogs, but since you ask, that b----y cockerel is doing my head in. I'd never have said anything you know, but he starts very early.'  I agreed as sometimes he wakes me about 4 am.  Anyway, I said I often forgot to cover the hatch so I'd make sure I shut it every night from now on and try to get a wooden flap installed instead of the piece of carpet.  I've already painted the window dark green, but maybe I need to board it off altogether to stop any light getting in at all

Anybody know what else I could do - I like having Jamie, he's quite a character, very entertaining, and doesn't deserve to die!  My other neighbours don't hear him, or so they say.  I've got super neighbours all round here, so want to keep them happy.

It's quite a dilemma

[jameslindsay]

Annie if you lower the height of the roof so he can't stretch his neck you won't have a sound out of him, I am assured. He needs to stretch his neck to allow him to cock a doodle doo. Hope this makes sense.

[sandy]

I heard a coceral the other day and my neighbour said it was her's...I love that sound but I Am odd!!!

[Roxy]

It is coming light a lot earlier now.  My hens (and cockerels) are up the lane from my house.  But very near a barn and two farmhouses.  No one has said anything, but I have a few bantam cockerels in different sheds, and when they all start they do cause a racket.  One crows before he goes to bed every night!!

I have tried blocking all light out, but thats no use, they still know its morning.  Also put one cockerel in a small hut, thinking he could not stand up and crow - he still did it!!

We are in a rural area, which thankfully means there are not many houses.  Are you very close to your neighbours, Annie?  Personally, I  like to hear the crowing of a cockerel myself, but a lot of people do complain.  If you are in a town, you have to put up with all sorts of noises - people seem to tolerate these things, but not cockerels for some reaason.

Soundproof box is needed I think!

[whitby_sam]

I boarded up the windows on the shed and while this didn't stop my two crowing it did stop them doing it so early and also reduced the noise. Mine don't crow 'til about 7am most days now (even as the mornings are getting lighter). I have very understanding neighbours who are glad of a free box of eggs every now and then. I imagine if they were crowing at 4am It wouldn't be me culling them...

[plumseverywhere]

I really feel for you Annie, such a dilemma. I don't have any cockerals as we are very hilly here and noise travels a lot - our neighbours already have my 4 children to contend with (and one of them told my 3 year old to "shut up" yesterday when she was crying, but that's another story    )

sounds like the others have good ideas about lowering rooves etc. I hope that this helps as its such a shame to lose a beautiful bird 

In a way its better to know than for neighbours to be stewing amongst themselves, at least now you can do something to remedy the situation (I don't mean culling!)

[doganjo]

I live on the edge of the village, across the railway line from my very very nice neighbours, and if I hadn't mentioned the dogs they' never have said anything.  They don't want me to kill him, and absolutely love getting eggs from my hens.  There is a whole estate at that side if teh line beside them, but I have a row of 40 foot leylandiis in the back garden. I have a by pass on the other side and my only other neighhbours are behind me and they say they only hear him occasionally.

[doganjo]

His perch is quite high as it is so I'm not sure if a lowered roof would work, but I'll get some plywood and try it.  I don't think he mwas quite so early this morning - well I didn't hear him till 7, but I am a sound sleeper.  I did hear a train go hrough though.  I think he crows when they go by if the flap isn't down.  I remembered to put it down last night but I'll get a proper board flap soon as it's only carpet meantime.  Thanks for all the support and ideas, guys!  Must go, off to local dog show in a few mins.

[sabrina]

I keep mine in till 7.30am, as its quite dark in the building ours are quite, when I had them in an outside run he drove us mad all summer, his morning started around 4am 

[bamford6]

its no good iv put shutters up and lowerd the shed .iff eney one  takes the dogs past they will start eney time off the day or night . youres are in a habbit it will be hard to shut him up . i have 5 nere the house in total i have 48 cockrals and they doo my head in

[doganjo]

Oh thanks, Gary, that is VERY comforting!   Well he may have to be sent over wrapped in cling film for their Sunday dinner, but I'm not sure their two little girls would be happy about that as they feed the chickens when they come over with egg boxes .

[Roxy]

I think Annie's neighbours would complain if she had 48 cockerels

I have been up round the field early in the morning, and as soon as the cockerels sense movement they start thier crowing.  I was there at about 4.30am  last summer, getting sorted before a horse show, and one cockerel started, then another ......and another .........and then the first one again. 

Surely a cockerel crowing is part of the country life everyone yearns for?

[doganjo]

I agree, Roxy, doesn't bother me and as I said, Archie would nver have said anything if i hadn't mentioned teh dogs barking - now that DOES annoy me!

[sheila]

Ask your neighbour outright if he wants you to get rid of your cockrel. Make him feel guilty, tell him how much you love the bird and would he like to kill it for you as you couldn't possibly do it!
You never know he might apologise to you for suggesting such a thing!

[doganjo]

I couldn't do that, Sheila, they are a lovely family, and Archie only mentioned it because of me asking about the dogs.  I must just remember to shut them in at night and board up teh window and door a bit more securely.  I don't think Jamie's been up so early since I started dropping teh carpet flap at night.