A local woman’s request to keep emotional support roosters on her property was approved by Marion County officials this week.
April Smith, of Silver Springs, presented her “reasonable accommodation” request to the Marion County Board of County Commissioners during its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 16.
Smith, whose doctor provided a letter indicating the two emotional support roosters are “prescribed for the applicant,” has been housing the roosters in a coop in the back of her property.
During a discussion on the request, commissioner Craig Curry questioned Smith as to why she chose roosters.
“I’d never seen Silkies until I came here. When I got them, they were babies,” said Smith. The Silkie is a breed of chicken named for its plumage, which is described as fluffy and silky.
Smith explained that she was unable to determine the sex of her Silkies and was told they were female. As a result, she thought they couldn’t breed.
They did breed, in fact, producing an offspring that lives with its parents in Smith’s backyard.
When Curry asked about the potential for noise, county staff explained that a condition of approval called for “no-crow” collars, which are apparatuses that tighten around roosters’ necks and restrict their ability to make noise.
A neighbor of Smith’s said she never hears the roosters except for “once in a great while,” and that they “don’t bother anybody.” She went on to say that her grandson’s toys and nearby owls made more noise than the roosters.
Additionally, the neighbor asked commissioners to consider not implementing the collars. Shortly after making her request, Chair Michelle Stone offered a tip that she Googled in the moment.
“Silkies are less likely to crow if there are other mature roosters on the site,” said Stone after her internet search.
After the neighbor ended her comments, commissioner Kathy Bryant confirmed that the case had come before the board due to a code enforcement complaint. As Bryant and Stone spoke with staff, they were informed that two additional neighbors had written letters in support of the request.
Both requests, which were received at 2 p.m., several hours after the multi-hour meeting began, said the roosters presented no nuisance and created no noise.
Shortly after hearing the letters, Bryant made a motion to approve the request without the condition of the collars. The motion was seconded by Curry and was approved unanimously.
The parcel, which is located inside the Juniper Springs protection area in Silver Springs, is just under one-fifth of an acre in size and is currently zoned R-4 (Mixed Residential). According to the county, if the roosters pass away, Smith would have to return with a renewed certification from her doctor and would have to receive approval before bringing any additional roosters onto the property.