Councils logged 519 rooster complaints last year as 1.5m backyard birds fuel suburban noise row

A Freedom of Information trawl found 519 formal complaints about cockerels waking neighbours in the past year, though councils say the true total is likely higher because animal noise is often not recorded separately. Industry data points to roughly 1.4–1.5 million household fowl after a pandemic-era boom, prompting calls for clearer recording, better public advice and proportionate enforcement where crowing becomes a statutory nuisance.

Feathers have been flying across towns and suburbs as homeowners report being driven to distraction by noisy cockerels. National press coverage of a Freedom of Information trawl found 519 formal complaints about roosters waking neighbours in the past year, and councils told requesters they often do not record poultry-related calls as a separate category, suggesting the official number may be an undercount. Industry data from the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association puts household ownership of domestic fowl at roughly 1.4 million, a figure widely cited when commentators explain why poultry noise is increasingly visible in urban nuisance logs. According to the original report, many owners acquired birds during the pandemic and some more recently as a way to cut grocery bills. (In the press piece the PFMA figure was rounded up to 1.5 million.)

The distribution of complaints points to particular pressure points. The FOI summary identified Bradford as the area with the most logged complaints, followed by Birmingham, Manchester, Derby, Rotherham and Bexley among others, and several local authorities told investigators they cannot easily provide full breakdowns because animal noise is typically lumped together in their systems. That lack of granular recording makes it harder to build a clear national picture of how widespread roosters-as-nuisance really are, and it complicates efforts to design targeted local policy or outreach for new poultry keepers.

The rise in backyard poultry is not unique to the UK. Industry figures and news reporting show a clear pandemic-era boom in household flocks: hatcheries and breeders in both the United States and the UK were overwhelmed with orders in 2020 and 2021 as people sought fresh eggs, a hobby during lockdowns, and a route to greater food security. Journalistic investigations at the time described many first-time keepers purchasing hens and, in some cases, cockerels without fully appreciating the long-term commitment and practical constraints of keeping birds in built-up neighbourhoods. Trade bodies caution that survey methods shifted during Covid and warn against direct comparison with pre-pandemic face-to-face surveys, underlining some uncertainty in exact ownership totals.

Local authorities have tools to tackle persistent crowing when it becomes a statutory nuisance. Case law and reporting show councils can investigate complaints, collect evidence such as diary sheets and monitoring recordings, and serve noise abatement notices under the Environmental Protection Act; failure to comply can lead to prosecution and fines, as one high-profile Berkshire case demonstrated. Bradford Council’s published guidance sets out the typical process—investigation, evidence-gathering and, where appropriate, enforcement—while also offering practical advice to minimise crowing, including keeping birds indoors at dusk and dawn, siting coops away from neighbouring windows and using measures to keep housing dark at night.

Councils’ guidance and local journalism also illustrate that animal-noise complaints sit alongside a wide range of nuisance grievances—from loud music to vermin—and that officers routinely try mediation and practical remedies before resorting to formal enforcement. Local reporting shows complaints about poultry have featured increasingly in council logs in some areas, and environmental health teams often advise on both neighbourliness and welfare, stressing that any action should protect animals as well as people.

“It might sound trivial but these chickens and cockerels can drive people crazy,” said John Stewart, chair of the UK Noise Association, speaking to the press. His comment underlines the social friction that can build when rural practices come into close contact with suburban living: owners may value fresh eggs and companionship, while neighbours can be left enduring repeated early-morning disturbance.

The practical takeaway from councils, industry groups and past reporting is straightforward: prospective owners should plan for long-term care and think about siting and species (hens rarely crow; cockerels do), and neighbours who are disturbed should document incidents and engage local environmental health teams if informal resolution fails. Industry and local authorities both signal that the headline numbers are likely conservative, and they urge clearer recording and better public advice so the spike in urban poultry keeping can be managed with proportionate enforcement and sensible public guidance rather than neighbourly confrontation.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
7

Notes:
The narrative appears to be original, with no identical matches found online. However, similar complaints about noisy roosters have been reported in the past, such as a 2018 incident in Roslindale, Massachusetts. ([universalhub.com](https://www.universalhub.com/2018/citizen-complaint-day-roughneck-roslindale?utm_source=openai)) The report cites a Freedom of Information request revealing 519 formal complaints about roosters waking neighbours in the past year, suggesting a recent uptick in such issues. The inclusion of updated data, such as the PFMA’s estimate of 1.4 million households owning domestic fowl, indicates an effort to provide current information. Nonetheless, the report may still be recycling older material, which should be flagged. Additionally, the report mentions that councils often do not record poultry-related calls separately, which may lead to undercounting. This suggests that the actual number of complaints could be higher than reported. The report also notes that many owners acquired birds during the pandemic, indicating that the trend of keeping poultry in urban areas has been growing in recent years. The report includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.

Quotes check

Score:
8

Notes:
The report includes a direct quote from John Stewart, chair of the UK Noise Association, stating, “It might sound trivial but these chickens and cockerels can drive people crazy.” This quote appears to be original, with no identical matches found online. The wording is consistent with typical media reporting on such issues. The absence of earlier appearances of this quote suggests that it may be original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score:
6

Notes:
The narrative originates from the Express, a UK-based tabloid newspaper. While it is a well-known publication, it is often considered to have lower journalistic standards compared to more reputable outlets. The report cites data from the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA), a reputable industry body, and includes quotes from John Stewart, chair of the UK Noise Association, lending some credibility to the information presented. However, the Express has a history of sensationalist reporting, which raises questions about the overall reliability of the narrative.

Plausability check

Score:
7

Notes:
The report discusses the rise in complaints about noisy roosters in urban areas, citing data from a Freedom of Information request revealing 519 formal complaints in the past year. It also mentions that many owners acquired birds during the pandemic, leading to increased poultry ownership in urban settings. The inclusion of updated data from the PFMA, estimating 1.4 million households owning domestic fowl, supports the plausibility of the claims. The report also notes that councils often do not record poultry-related calls separately, which may lead to undercounting. This suggests that the actual number of complaints could be higher than reported. The report includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary:
The narrative presents a plausible account of increasing complaints about noisy roosters in urban areas, supported by data from the PFMA and quotes from industry experts. However, the Express’s history of sensationalist reporting and the recycling of older material raise concerns about the overall reliability and freshness of the information. Further verification from more reputable sources is recommended to confirm the accuracy of the claims.