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Youth petition seeks right to keep roosters; council to have city attorney review
Summary
A student and his sister presented nearly 100 signatures asking the council to allow roosters in suburban backyards; the council asked the city solicitor to review the petition and report back.
A Scranton middle- or high-school student presented a petition with nearly 100 neighborhood signatures asking the city to allow roosters in suburban household flocks.
Ezra Zerbos and his sister Addie described the animal and gardening benefits of keeping a rooster, including flock protection, pest control, soil aeration and teaching opportunities for children. "Roosters are more than just noisy and aggressive birds," Ezra said, arguing that certain breeds are docile and that roosters can be quieter if coops are kept dark at night.
Council members thanked the siblings for their work and asked that the city solicitor review the petition and the city’s ordinance on backyard poultry and roosters. Council members also raised related questions about maximum numbers of chickens allowed and whether existing occupancy or nuisance rules apply. The administration said it would have Attorney Gilbride or another staff member review the request and report back to council.
No change to the city’s ordinance was made at the meeting; next steps are a staff review of the petition and an ordinance analysis.
