WILMINGTON — Roosters may be on the chopping block of animals not allowed in city residences.
During the Judiciary Committee meeting on Wednesday, chairperson Matt Purkey said an Oakridge Drive resident wrote to him saying a neighbor who has chickens — which are legally allowed in the city — wants to “replenish them” with a rooster.
Committee member Kelsey Swindler said she would be in favor of an ordinance prohibiting roosters from city residences.
“Chickens are fine, eggs are fine, if you want to buy a chick you want more chickens. But if you’re actually trying to breed that’s the point where it doesn’t make sense,” she said.
This wasn’t the first time committee members had received rooster-related complaints. Both Purkey and Swindler said residents on Vine and Main Street had made complaints.
Purkey first suggested that ordinance 505.09, which pertains to barking/howling dogs, can easily be applied to roosters. The ordinance, 505.09, states that, “No person shall keep or harbor any dog within the Municipality which, by frequent and habitual barking, howling or yelping, creates unreasonably loud and disturbing noises of such a character, intensity and duration as to disturb the peace, quiet and good order of the Municipality.”
“People think (rooster noises are) first thing in the morning but they go on all day long,” said Purkey.
Swindler asked if they could make an ordinance that would prohibit roosters from being in the city. City Administrator Marian Miller said they’ve done that in the past with exotic animals — ordinance 507.02.
Swindler suggested that it’d be easier to have roosters be included in ordinance 505.13 which prevents residents from keeping swine within city limits. Miller suggested changing the chapter title from “swine” to “prohibited animals.”
“I like the idea of attaching it in (chapter) 505,” said Swindler. “If I were looking for it as a community member this is where I would look.”
The committee voted to have Law Director Brett Rudduck create an amendment to chapter 505 of the codified ordinance to prohibit roosters within city limits. They also agreed to perform three separate readings for it during regular council meetings.
