DON'T put socks on those cockerels! That was the advice today from wildlife organisations, following claims that a York council officer suggested to Nev and Maggie Earnshaw they should pop socks on their birds' heads to muffle their sounds.

The Evening Press reported yesterday that residents from the new Earswick Chase estate had contacted City of York Council to complain about the early morning crowing from the couple's cockerels.

Mr Earnshaw said the call was a traditional rural sound, and people should expect it when moving to the countryside.

Officials recently advised him to keep his latest cockerel, George, quiet by painting the roof of his coop black to make him think the sun had not risen.

The council now says it has "no record" of making the sock suggestion to Mr Earnshaw, though when first approached by the Evening Press it did not deny it, saying it had contacted a number of organisations, including the Domestic Fowl Trust, for advice on how to stop cocks crowing.

But Emma Landshoff, director of the Domestic Fowl Trust, said they would never advise cockerel owners to quiet them down with a sock.

"It would be cruel to the cockerel," she said.

"We've never come across that and I'm sure the RSPCA would have something to say about it. It would be like putting a bag over a dog's head."

Ms Landshoff suggested cockerel owners line their coops with egg boxes to muffle the sound. RSPCA spokeswoman Heather Holmes said it was "not sensible" to put a sock over a cockerel's head.

"Anything that prevents an animal from expressing its natural behaviour has the potential to cause suffering or distress," she said.

Earswick Parish Council vice-chairman Coun Sian Wiseman said: "Earswick has been here a very long time and the new estate has expanded the village.

"It's a rural area, and if people wish to keep livestock then so be it."

Council officials said they had now spoken to the officer concerned, and had found "no record" of making the sock suggestion.

A spokeswoman said: "The council's advice to the Earnshaws and to other cockerel owners is and always has been - ensure that there are no gaps where light could enter the coop, reduce the height available for the cockerel to stretch his neck to crow, for example, by raising the perch, only keep one cockerel in a coop with hens.

"These methods are humane ways of reducing cockerels' crowing and have been proven to be successful. We do not endorse the use of any inhumane methods of reducing the noise made by cockerels.

"We hope this will help Mr and Mrs Earnshaw reduce the amount of noise caused by their birds."

But Mr Earnshaw said: "I think it's rotten that the council is denying this now.

"This is not something I could have dreamed of making up."

Did you complain about the crowing cockerel? If so, phone reporter Matthew Woodcock on 01904 653051 ext 305 or email matthew.woodcock@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 09:29 Thursday, January 12, 2006