Ducks win court case over loud quacking in French countryside
'I’m very happy because I didn’t want to slaughter my ducks,' says owner
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Ducks living on a smallholding in a French town can keep on quacking, a court has ruled.
A neighbour had lodged an official complaint about the noisy animals, which has now been rejected.
“The ducks have won,” Dominique Douthe, the farmer who keeps the ducks in the Soustons district in southwest France, said. “I’m very happy because I didn’t want to slaughter my ducks.”
A Dax court said the noise from the flock of around 60 ducks and geese kept by the retired farmer was within acceptable limits, broadcaster France 3 said.
The complaint was brought by Ms Douthe’s neighbour, who moved from the city around a year ago into a property about 50 metres away from the enclosure.
The neighbour’s lawyer claimed the noise exceeded permissible levels and prevented the neighbour enjoying their garden or sleeping with their house windows open.
The dispute is the latest in a series of court cases that have seen rural French traditions, especially farmyard noises, challenged by new residents.
A retired couple who had bought a second home on Oleron, an island off the French Atlantic coast, complained that a cockerel’s early morning crowing was disruptive.
In September, Maurice the cockerel won the right to continue crowing where he lived.
“Maurice has won a battle for the whole of France,” said owner Corinne Fesseau after winning the case. “Why shouldn’t we have a Maurice law to protect all rural sounds?”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments