New Jersey Town Bans Roosters Amidst Resident Complaints

Brick Township, New Jersey, has officially banned roosters within its municipal limits, responding to a growing number of resident complaints about the disruptive noise produced by the male fowl. The unanimous vote by the Brick Township Council on October 13 amended an existing animal housing ordinance to prohibit the ownership, harboring, raising, breeding, or possession of roosters.

The decision stems from a rise in noise complaints over the past six years, coinciding with an increase in backyard chicken keeping, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The council determined that the repetitive and inconsistent crowing of roosters adversely affects public health and safety and disrupts the peaceful enjoyment of residential properties.

Under the new ordinance, residents are prohibited from owning or possessing roosters. However, individuals who owned roosters prior to the ordinance's passage can continue to keep their birds under specific conditions. They must obtain a permit from the zoning office and house the rooster in an approved structure for its natural lifespan. Upon the death, sale, or removal of a permitted rooster, owners are prohibited from acquiring any additional male chickens.

While the ordinance aims to address resident concerns, some officials and residents have questioned the priority of this issue. Councilman Gregory Cohen expressed surprise at the council's focus on roosters, stating there were more significant matters to address. One resident, Mike Smith, echoed this sentiment, claiming he had never heard a rooster and that the council should focus on more pressing concerns.

However, other residents have voiced strong opposition to the crowing birds, describing the noise as a serious disruption. "It is funny until you're woken up at five o'clock in the morning and you hear them all day," said resident Patricia Schucht during the council meeting. Previously, enforcement of noise complaints was difficult, often requiring a police officer to witness the disturbance directly.

The ban took immediate effect, but the presence of roosters in Brick Township's neighborhoods may continue for several more years, as the average lifespan of a rooster is between five and 15 years. Some owners have noted that roosters also play a role in protecting hens and chicks from predators.