AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

CHOOK lover Jack Hutton has vowed to keep ruffling feathers in his fight to keep backyard fowl.

Mr Hutton, 81, is cock-a-hoop over a decision by a north Queensland magistrate to throw out an excessive noise complaint case alleging his 16 prize roosters crow up to 922 times in an hour.

"I'll admit, they do make a bit of noise in the morning," said the Townsville pensioner.

"But nowhere near that much.

"Besides, I know a lot of people who like to wake up to the sound of a crowing rooster."

Mr Hutton's long-running dispute has been dubbed the "Chook Wars of Rosslea".

He admits there is no love lost in Love Lane -- where he has lived and reared chickens for 52 years -- since complainant Carl Mamers moved into a newly built unit block next door four years ago.

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"I was living here, happily tending to my chooks, well before they built these bloody big unit blocks around me," he said.

"Cocks crow, it's what keeps them healthy. They flap their wings and crow; it's part of the whole show of machismo.

"No one complained until this bloke moved in.

"I used to share my fresh eggs with all the neighbours.

"Now I bury them."

Townsville City Council officers alleged Mr Hutton failed to keep his old english bantam roosters quiet as they crowed between 388 and 922 times an hour.

Magistrate Peter Smid dismissed the charge of failing to comply with minimum standards after recording equipment failed or malfunctioned and he described the council's investigation of complaints as "poor".

Mr Hutton's case has become a cause celebre, with at least one Sydney film crew shooting footage of him in his pyjamas.

The retired railway worker grew up in an era in Australia when everyone had backyard chickens. His father was in both world wars, his mother the sole parent and supporter. Without chickens, he said, there would have been no eggs, no meat and no food.

At times the chickens even brought some unexpected pleasure to the children.

"Easter time, we were too poor for chocolate," he said.

"Mum would boil an egg and cover it with crayon. That was our Easter egg, a hard-boiled egg painted in crayon."

Councillor Dale Last has vowed to pursue any fresh complaints.

To Mr Hutton, the fight has become more than a matter of principle.

"I'm not going to lay down and die to make them happy," said the former show judge.

"If they take my chickens away, they take away my hobby, my life.

"And the moment I've got nothing left to do, I'll kick the bucket pretty quick.

"I plan to keep on ruffling feathers for as long as it takes."

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FEATHERED FACTS

* A rooster will generally crow to mark its territory.

* This starts before four months of age.

* Despite popular belief, roosters can and will crow at any time of the day.

* The number of times depends on their breed and individual personality.

* Roosters have several other calls, including clucking like a chicken.

* In a case in the UK, a noisy rooster's crow was recorded at just under 90 decibels . enough to match a lawn mower or a passing truck.

* In the US, research on noise from poultry farms showed sound levels rose to 83 decibels when the roosters crowed.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/quee ... 6043536184

What do you think?

I say way go Jack! you show them who boss



LooLoo

Cases like this infuriate me.
He has lived there peacefully for 52 yrs, they build flats next door and it is him that has to give up his lifesyle because of some big mouthed "yuppi".
He's right, they take away his chooks at his age he has no will to live or reason to get up each day.
He's also right in that there are those who like to hear a rooster crow, reminds them they are in suburbia not the CBD, it also reminds them of chilhood memories.
In every case like this I have heard it is the "johnny come lately" that moves in and the rest of the community has to adapt to them.
Next council election Councillor Dale should be 'axed', it's petty politicians like him that are there for thier own agrandisement not what is in the best interest of the community, someone should inform them they are there to"serve" not dictate.
Now I feel better.
Good one Jack, stick it to the B's.

I totally agree with you Oaklands I see red also when I read such stupidity by councils



LooLoo

I read this in the paper and was discussed in the person who complained they move there and then complain I wish they would publish the persons name that complained I hope jack gets a big loud stereo and plays it all day every day

This is terrible how do these people sleep at night

From where I stand all I can see is the neighbour from hell! Tell me can anyone see a blade of grass in that yard? no? This tells me that yard will become a stinking , diseased yard when the weather get's warmer and more humid (pity the poor neighbour/s) Is it any wonder that councils get P&%$# off with poultry folk and bad management, not to mention your new neighbours. Take another look at that backyard, I'll tell you what I see,not enough land for the number of poultry.

I disagree you cannot tell how much land he has and it look very clean to me. The point is he was there first and the new neighbor needs to get a life or take up keeping chickens and not pick on an 81 year old man because they are too gutless to pick on someone younger that would fight back

Councils are supposed to help the rate payers not dictate to them

Shame on the council and shame on the person who complained they should both hang their heads in shame