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Peafowl Row Ruffles Feathers In Mulbarton

Monday, 17 August 2026 17:08

Mulbarton’s colourful peafowl have divided opinion after complaints about their noise and visits to gardens prompted a council investigation.

A rather unusual neighbour dispute is ruffling feathers in Mulbarton, where the village’s long-established peafowl have become the subject of a noise complaint.

Around 20 peacocks and peahens roam the village and have become a familiar sight to generations of residents. For some people, the colourful birds are part of what makes Mulbarton distinctive – but others say their loud calls, mess and regular trips into gardens have become increasingly difficult to live with.

A complaint about the birds is now being looked into by South Norfolk Council.

Peafowl can be particularly vocal during the warmer months, and their distinctive calls can carry considerable distances. South Norfolk Council has procedures for investigating complaints where noise is alleged to be causing a statutory nuisance.

But opinion in Mulbarton appears firmly divided.

While some residents would like action taken to reduce the disturbance, others argue the birds have been part of village life for decades and should be regarded as a much-loved local feature.

For now, the peafowl remain free to wander – leaving Mulbarton with one of Norfolk’s more colourful neighbourhood debates.

 

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