Farmers Branch Says Yes to Backyard Chickens But Scratches Roosters From City Limits

FARMERS BRANCH -- Homeowners here can soon add chickens to the list of pets they can keep, but anyone interested in owning the barnyard animals will have to adhere to a strict pecking order. The city council voted 4-1 Tuesday for an ordinance that will allow a property owner to keep between three and six hens with a city-issued permit. Roosters, however, will not be allowed -- unless they're younger than 60 days old. Having a rooster older than that could cost the scofflaw a fine of $1,000. And anyone with more than six hens could face a fine of $100 per extra chicken. Homeowners will have to pay a one-time, non-refundable $50 application fee and attend a training session before they can get their chicken permit. And anyone with fewer than three chickens will not be approved for a permit, said Shane Davis, director of sustainability and public health. City officials said that at least three hens are necessary to keep the peace with the fowl and get them to deliver eggs."Hens are usually dominant. They need to be social for them to be produce," Davis said. "If you have (only) a couple of them, it may be stressful."  Continue reading...