Jim Benson

I've had a council allotment for the last 30 year, but tomorrow night there is a big meeting about whether to evict us because of the noise of the cockerels. I'm a pensioner, everyone encourages pensioners to get a hobby - I've had this hobby for 30 years and now they're going to take it off me. The cockerels crowing is a noise nuisance, but there's a big meeting tomorrow night so we'll see how we get on.

I lived on a farm and always looked after hens. I got some pure bred bantams and started showing them and then carried on from there. It's what you get up for in the morning when you're a pensioner... it keeps you going. It gives you purpose in life... I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have my chickens. But that's how it goes. So fingers crossed.

Ollie, UK

During WWII my Uncle Fred had a small piece of land, known as a "piece". There was a small area for vegetables but most of the land was for live stock. A few pigs, one more than the government knew about (that one was for the family). Goats for milk and later their meat. Hens were my favourites and I've had a soft spot for them ever since. I loved collecting those warm eggs!

Jacki, Stockton

We used to hatch them, take them to the allotments, fatten them up and then neck them and sell them. I used to eat all of the animals... chickens, rabbits... all of them! *laughs maniacally and mimics necking chicken!*