# What to do about my neighbor's annoying cock **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 6, 2011, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-my-neighbors-annoying-cock/591677 "2011-08-06T01:51:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-my-neighbors-annoying-cock/591677/1 "2011-08-06T01:51:38Z")
Yes, I’m having a chicken problem, and need advice. As some of you may know, I work nights and sleep during the day. I live in the city 'burbs in an apartment complex with about 40 units, and they abut up to a property that looks like it’s straight out of the sticks. It’s a large farmhouse on about an acre, with a large garden, trees and chickens. Now, I love chickens. I used to have chickens. However, they also have a bloody rooster. They must have had a straight run of chicks this spring because the last two months the bloody thing crows all day for 16 hours. It’s very annoying when I’m trying to sleep. They must know it exists, I can hear it with all my windows shut. I want it to stop, and I thought I would ask you, the teeming millions, to give me an idear of what to do. I also looked up the poultry laws for urban farming, they cannot have a rooster within city limits. I’ve never talked to these people, or seen them so I don’t know what they’re like. These are the options I’ve thought up. A: Go knock on their door, and ask them politely when they’re going to be getting rid of the rooster. Explain that I sleep during the day, and I know I’m not the only one in my building that does so, and their rooster is a noise hazard. Give them the statute that says roosters aren’t allowed in the city. Tell them I’d rather deal with them like neighbors instead of calling the police. B: Same as above, except to do it at 1 AM when THEY are trying to sleep, maybe they’ll get the hint. C: Leave a note stating the above on their door or in their mailbox. D: call the police and lodge enough noise complaints that they get rid of the rooster. I hate getting The Man involved with anything, but if it’ll make them get rid of the noise so I can sleep I’m game. E: .22 sniper round out my window to the offending poultry. Now, some of these options I may not take completely seriously, but sleep deprivation makes all kinds of crazy options seem likely. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-my-neighbors-annoying-cock/591677/2 "2011-08-06T01:55:11Z")
They were there first. Learn to live with it. StG ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-my-neighbors-annoying-cock/591677/3 "2011-08-06T01:55:19Z")
I’d say go straight to reporting through the police/municipal ordnances. They know their rooster crows during the day. They don’t give two fucks about it. Going over there and talking to them, you’re going to get either blank indifference (So what if you sleep during the day? You can’t keep the world silent because you need a nap) or open hostility, and more noise during the day. This is what noise ordnances, livestock laws and the police/municipal enforcement are there for. Let them deal with it. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-my-neighbors-annoying-cock/591677/4 "2011-08-06T02:13:43Z")
The best thing would be to get as many tenants in your building as possible to sign a letter saying that the rooster is causing a noise disturbance. It is better if it is the Entire Building vs. Them than You vs. Them. The letter should cite the relevant laws and look fairly serious. Put a copy of the signed letter on their door. If there is no change, then make a complaint to the police and, of course, give them a copy of the letter. ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-my-neighbors-annoying-cock/591677/5 "2011-08-06T02:22:38Z")
F. Use earplugs. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-my-neighbors-annoying-cock/591677/6 "2011-08-06T03:13:05Z")
go to the local Megalomart and get the following… an axe a box of Shake-N-Bake a deep-fat fryer step 1; “stop” the chicken step 2 ? step 3 Profit (a.k.a deep-fry and eat the evidence) you gain back the ability to sleep in, and a very fresh, free chicken dinner, it’s win-win for you… 😉 (just kidding, don’t do this…) ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-my-neighbors-annoying-cock/591677/7 "2011-08-06T03:21:26Z")
**EvilTOJ** Calls the police to investigate disturbing the peace. The police come over and ask what the problem is. **EvilTOJ** says “It’s my neighbor’s cock. It keeps me up all night and its all I can think about during the day. His cock is ruining my life”. The policeman says, “That’s funny, I don’t see any cocks around here”. **EvilTOJ** replies, “Well, just climb up on that chair, look out the window like I do and you will get an ear full of it.” ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-my-neighbors-annoying-cock/591677/8 "2011-08-06T03:44:28Z")
Get earplugs. Soundproof your place. It sounds like the farmhouse might have been there before the apt. complex you live in, and chickens may not be allowed NOW but they might have been grandfathered in. They aren’t legal where I live, but they are legal in the next county, which for me is right across the street. I don’t think they have a rooster anymore, but when they had one he would crow at any old time–2 a.m., four a.m., noon. But it seemed to me he was more likely to make noise between 1-5 a.m., when I was sleeping, and mostly didn’t bother me any other time. They are probably not anymore thrilled about your apartment complex than you are about their rooster, and the complex has ruined their property values forever, why should they care if one of its tenants loses sleep? ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-my-neighbors-annoying-cock/591677/9 "2011-08-06T03:53:16Z")
If it’s against an ordinance, it should only take ONE complaint (or a few tickets). Not a bunch. I doubt the cops would kill it or take it away, but they should issue tickets every time they get a complaint about it. Keeping the rooster will become a bad investment and it should disappear shortly. Or they can soundproof the rooster coop (wherever it hangs out). ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-my-neighbors-annoying-cock/591677/10 "2011-08-06T04:00:31Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > I also looked up the poultry laws for urban farming, they cannot have a rooster within city limits. I don’t think I’d bet on this without more research. This made be true code-wise, but if they have been there for some time farming uses (and chickens crowing) are usually grandfathered in as allowed uses if they were there before the code changed or they were incorporated into the city. They may be perfectly within their rights to have a crowing rooster. If you can get their address and check the tax records online it should show you how long they have been continuously occupying the property. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-my-neighbors-annoying-cock/591677/11 "2011-08-06T04:26:31Z")
If you could get over it you _will_ get used to it, believe it or not, until you simply won’t hear it anymore. It’s like the snow plow, the first time it comes through your neighbourhood at 2:30 am, you awaken thinking there’s a hurricane or earthquake, it’s so loud and it seems like the whole house is shaking. But, by the third night you sleep right through it. I used to live beside a parking lot where the snow was being pushed right up to the house effectively. It was remarkably loud, we get lots of big snow falls. After a couple of nights I’d just sleep through it. The thing is, you can’t sleep when you’re angry. Ear plugs are a really good place to start, I’d say. They are unlikely to be giving up the cock and cocks crow, so that’s not going to change, is my guess. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-my-neighbors-annoying-cock/591677/12 "2011-08-06T11:46:06Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > If you could get over it you _will_ get used to it, believe it or not, until you simply won’t hear it anymore. > > It’s like the snow plow, the first time it comes through your neighbourhood at 2:30 am, you awaken thinking there’s a hurricane or earthquake, it’s so loud and it seems like the whole house is shaking. But, by the third night you sleep right through it. Not everyone works this way, unfortunately. I can’t speak for the OP, but I’m hypersensitive to extraneous noise. I used to live in a neighborhood of townhouses with an overpowering HOA that would mow or weedwhack within hearing distance every single weekday at 7am, and it never stopped waking me up. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-my-neighbors-annoying-cock/591677/13 "2011-08-06T12:05:39Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > A: Go knock on their door, and ask them politely when they’re going to be getting rid of the rooster. Explain that I sleep during the day… > [@StGermain](#): > > They were there first. Learn to live with it. Regardless of whether this particular rooster is or isn’t technically against the rules, these are the civilized options. ---
**Author:** ![FrY10cK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9adbd/32.png) [@FrY10cK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrY10cK)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-my-neighbors-annoying-cock/591677/14 "2011-08-06T12:12:02Z")
These are only about $30: [http://www.bedphones.com/](http://www.bedphones.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-my-neighbors-annoying-cock/591677/15 "2011-08-06T12:20:54Z")
Do like many a Thai lady has handled an annoying cock: Slice it with a razor. (Lots of farm girls here.) ---
**Author:** ![Tabithina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@Tabithina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabithina)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-my-neighbors-annoying-cock/591677/16 "2011-08-06T12:24:14Z")
We live in a fairly noisy, active neighborhood, and my hubby started working nights a few year back. The type of noise we have around here is not anything we can do much about. There is a gas station on the corner, and people pull up all the time with very loud bass stereos in their cars. Thick curtains help filter out some of the outdoor sounds, but the biggest help to my hubby has been a Sleepmate white noise machine. Best fifty bucks we ever spent. Maybe something like that would help. > **[Amazon.com: Yogasleep Dohm Classic (Tan) The Original White Noise Machine,...](https://www.amazon.com/Yogasleep-Original-Soothing-Cancelling-Meditation/dp/B000KUHFGM)** > > Amazon.com: Yogasleep Dohm Classic (Tan) The Original White Noise Machine, Soothing Natural Sound from a Real Fan, Noise Cancelling for Office Privacy, Travel & Meditation, Sleep Therapy For Adults & Baby : Health & Household ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-my-neighbors-annoying-cock/591677/17 "2011-08-06T14:18:50Z")
Call the cops; if that doesn’t solve it, get an electric fan and leave it blowing on you while you sleep. Add a white noise machine on top of this if you’re still waking up. There is no scenario where these people will willing give up their rooster to suit you. None. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-my-neighbors-annoying-cock/591677/18 "2011-08-06T14:28:49Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > There is no scenario where these people will willing give up their rooster to suit you. None. You have no way of knowing that. It’s worth **EvilTOJ** asking, at least. Since he knows something about chickens, he should be able to understand the various reasons that somebody might keep a rooster around. _One_ of those is, “we wanted him to grow bigger before we butcher him.” If the bird has been crowing for two months, then depending on breed and other factors it might be two more before he’s filled out. There may already be a timetable. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-my-neighbors-annoying-cock/591677/19 "2011-08-06T14:35:57Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > You have no way of knowing that. It’s worth **EvilTOJ** asking, at least. Since he knows something about chickens, he should be able to understand the various reasons that somebody might keep a rooster around. _One_ of those is, “we wanted him to grow bigger before we butcher him.” If the bird has been crowing for two months, then depending on breed and other factors it might be two more before he’s filled out. There may already be a timetable. Right, there may already be a timetable but they aren’t going to change it for one tenant in a big apartment building near their house. They know their rooster crows. They aren’t going to bend over backwards and kill an animal for a renter. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-my-neighbors-annoying-cock/591677/20 "2011-08-06T14:38:09Z")
Talk to the police. Every municipality has laws that guarantee you “the right to quiet enjoyment,” and your neighbors are breaking that law. Be it dog, chicken or gorilla, you have to keep your pets quiet. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-about-my-neighbors-annoying-cock/591677.md?page=2)