Marietta Moves To Make Roosters As We Know Them Illegal

MARIETTA, OH — There is a proposal the Marietta City Council is considering that could make owning a rooster illegal. They just had their first reading of a city ordinance they want to amend. The ordinance is titled Keeping Certain Animals Prohibited. If it passes they will repeal existing legislation that's in conflict with this and make roosters as we know them illegal in city limits.

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Councilman Bill Gossett said there is a reason for this proposal. "We've been getting some complaints around the city." He didn't say how many, only that he's received more than one. "People in Norwood and people in the Fourth Ward as well."

There would be ways to avoid being an outlaw rooster owner in Marietta. The ordinance would allow for people to own roosters if they make them wear anti-crowing devices. Councilman Gossett these are fairly straightforward, "These are a collar. They fit it on the neck. That way they can't swell out his neck to crow."

This ordinance doesn't target chickens. But Gossett said more people are getting chickens, and if you want your chickens to have more chickens you need a rooster. "So we can take care of this now before it becomes a real issue in the future."

Amy Gentry has a chicken coop in the Third Ward. She didn't have too much of an opinion because she doesn't currently have a rooster. "I get it because roosters are annoying, but chickens don't do what the roosters do." She said she loves her chickens.

Traci McKitrick lives in the Third Ward and has a neighbor with chickens. She doesn't have as much problem with the noise as she does with the smell of the chicken coop. "I know there's some debate about the roosters, I don't care, I grew up on a farm." She said that she and a number of neighbors are filing nuisance complaint forms about the chicken coop. "The smell is so bad. I think if people are going to have chickens, they need to be regularly inspected to make sure it's staying clean."

The ordinance hasn't been passed and it still has a couple of readings to go before it can be voted on. Anyone who wants to speak out on the issue can do so by attending a Marietta City Council meeting at the Armory.

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