Marion Council to consider new noisy bird law, which could include a rooster ban and bird limits

Poultry enthusiasts may be plucking mad as a western suburbs council considers banning roosters and limiting the number of birds residents can keep. Have your say.

Marion Council will look to create a new noisy bird by-law which could ban the keeping of roosters in the area.

At its April meeting, the council moved to draft the new by-law which could also extend to other poultry, geese, pheasants and peacocks.

A council report said the by-law would manage noisy birds in the region by limiting or prohibiting them.

“It is recommended that the keeping of roosters be prohibited without a permit and the number of birds including poultry, be limited per property to assist with preventing nuisance to others regarding noise and odour caused by animals and birds,” the report said.

“This would assist to create a comfortable and enjoyable environment for all residents, while at the same time recognising the benefit to some residents of keeping such animals and birds as pets.”

As part of the drafting process, a number of options will be presented to the council and later to the community for feedback before going to parliament for approval.

Marion Mayor Kris Hanna said all options – including a complete ban on roosters – were on the table.

“At this stage we’re just recognising it as an issue we need to examine,” Mr Hanna said.

“Nobody wants a really loud animal noise of any kind at dawn every morning, not all humans wake up at dawn.”

Marion Mayor Kris Hanna said the council will consider limits on noisy birds including roosters. Picture: AAP/Emma Brasier

Mr Hanna said roosters were the focus of the new by-law but the council would look at past complaints regarding other birds and consider limits.

“At the moment we don’t have any rules about it, theoretically someone could have 200 chooks in their backyard,” he said.

“So it is just raising the question of do we need some kind of reasonable limits.

“I don’t imagine we’re going to outlaw people keeping chooks in their backyard but it’s all up for examination at the moment.”

Last year, The Messenger revealed animal noise complaints to Adelaide councils had increased by almost 10 per cent.

Birds and roosters were listed as some of the most common complaints at a number of metropolitan councils.

At the same time and during the COVID-19 buying frenzy, fodder stores around the state were unable to keep up with demand for live chickens.