AN allotment holder who keeps 50 chickens on his plot has clashed with City of York Council over a poultry problem.

Andrew Rice, of Bootham, York, grows vegetables and keeps chickens on the council’s Green Lane allotments in Acomb where he looks after his brood, many of them former battery birds, in two sheds.

Earlier this year, he moved from a half plot at Green Lane to the current full plot, which measures 60ft by 80ft, and was told at the time he could relocate his sheds and birds without any problem.

But York council has said their rules on keeping chickens on allotments have not changed recently and 50 is too many. Mr Rice said the problems arose after an issue with the welfare of chickens on another allotment at Green Lane two months ago sparked a letter to all plot holders from the council limiting the number of sheds to one and the number of chickens to 12.

Mr Rice, who is unemployed, said he felt he was being unfairly penalised for someone else’s mistake.

“The RSPCA had to be called in because someone else wasn’t looking after their birds and the council are just totally out of order to penalise everyone.

“I have kept chickens for about five years and use their eggs. Most of the hens I have are rescue birds and many of them had no feathers when I got them. They are now in a good condition and I don’t want to have to get rid of them. I might have to sell the whole lot. I was given assurances when I took the plot on that chickens were not a problem and it’s getting to the stage now where I have had enough of the council acting like this.”

Dave Meigh, head of parks and open spaces at the authority, said: “The council’s rule restricting the number of hens that can be kept on allotments have been in place for a number of years. The rule is in place to ensure that the hens are properly cared for, in suitable conditions, and do not create a pest problem for other allotment tenants on the same site.

“With over 40 hens, Mr Rice’s flock is now considerably over the limit of 12. We have asked him to resolve the situation as soon as possible.”