Updates to Tulsa’s animal ordinances were on track to prohibit roosters over eight weeks old in residential areas, but city councilors may have figured out a way to avoid the ban.
Roosters start crowing at six to eight weeks old, but District 5 Councilor Mykey Arthrell-Knezek said he’s collared roosters for years to keep them from being the neighborhood alarm clock and suggested that practice could be worked into the ordinance.
"It just basically mutes the crow because it restricts the pipe so there’s less air coming out when they try and do the burst. So, it’s more of them, like, gasping than making any noise, but they’re fine. They can be alive forever with this on. It doesn’t impact their health," Arthrell-Knezek said.
District 4 Councilor Kara Joy McKee said there’s good reason to have roosters around.
"Chickens without a rooster are really vulnerable to hawks and owls. And we want the big, predatory birds that we have. They’re part of the ecosystem. But I’ve got constituents who had to stop having their hens," McKee said.
There are no restrictions on roosters for areas zoned for agriculture or agricultural residential use in the proposed amendments, which are due to come before the council for approval later this month. Last fall, councilors supported a proposal to raise the limit on hens from six to eight, citing growing interest in home-raised eggs and meat.
