Plans by Durham County Council to ban cockerels from allotments have triggered an outcry from bird owners, who warn the policy could lead to animals being culled or abandoned.
The council introduced the restrictions following a series of noise complaints from residents, giving keepers until 2027 to comply. However, campaigners say the move poses a serious threat to rare breeds and long-established bloodlines that have been carefully maintained by allotment holders for generations, according to the Telegraph.
Durham is not alone — similar bans have been implemented by other local authorities across the country — but the scale of opposition has prompted a review.
Ian Hoult, the council's neighbourhood protection manager, said officials had received numerous objections and would be ‘considering these carefully.’
Animal welfare groups fear that without a rethink, many birds will have nowhere to go when the deadline arrives.
