A POULTRY enthusiast in the border town of Wallangarra is prepared for a cock fight with the council over her rare, prize-winning roosters.

Kris Cole last month received a letter from the council saying her bird-keeping at Callandoon St went against local laws and should be removed or she would face a $2500 fine.

For 10 years the poultry enthusiast has been breeding purebred exhibition birds on a small scale at this address.

Her neighbours have spoken out in support of her operation as she waits on the council to decide whether to grant an exemption.

Mrs Cole said she was devastated at the thought of losing her poultry.

“If they are dispersed the bloodlines, especially of the rare houdans, will be irreplaceable,” she said.

“When the letter came, I was shocked.

"For the first five days I was numb, just devastated and very distraught.

“But now I am in fight mode.”

Mrs Cole exhibits her houdans, bantam araucanas and silkies from Warwick to Kyogle and Brisbane and sells all over Australia.

She has a double block where the poultry are free range until they are securely locked up at night.

“They are not overcrowded and receive ultimate care,” she said.

However, according to council’s local law, roosters or more than 15 poultry may not be kept on land smaller than 4000 square metres.

According to Mrs Cole, she’s not the only Wallangarra resident with roosters and she asked why other hadn’t received a similar letter.

One of Mrs Cole’s closest neighbours said they never had any problem with noise from the roosters and were shocked to learn of the letter.

Noelene Musumeci said they were far from being a disturbance.

“Living as we are, only a very short distance to Kris, and after talking to various other neighbours who live close to her, we are in agreement that the allegations are false or at least very exaggerated,” she said.

A council spokeswoman said officers were considering an application to adapt the rules.

“People can seek a variation of some provisions of a local law in certain circumstances, which need to be approved by council,” the spokeswoman said.

“Specifically to this situation, we’re currently considering an application for a variation in conjunction with a letter of support from the Tenterfield Poultry Club, which has been received.”