DES MOINES, Iowa. In an unusual twist, a parade of chickens has led to potential changes in how Des Moines will regulate backyard poultry. On Monday, passionate chicken enthusiasts took to the streets, marching from the Statehouse to City Hall with their feathered friends in tow.
The parade was organized by Ed Fallon, who felt that the city’s proposed restrictions on chickens were an overreaction. The current proposal, which has received preliminary approval from the city council, aims to reduce the number of chickens allowed from 30 to 12 and to ban roosters, which have been a source of noise complaints in some neighborhoods. Fallon argued that these restrictions were disproportionate, given that only three complaints about chickens were filed between January 2020 and June 2024.
City Manager Scott Sanders has taken note of the poultry protest and announced that changes to the proposed regulations might be on the horizon. In a statement released Friday, Sanders suggested that there is room to amend the proposal to “better serve the whole community,” including those who keep chickens.
Assistant City Manager Malcolm Hankins has been tasked with drafting an amendment to address these concerns. “After listening to Council Member concerns at the July 22 Council meeting, we believe there is a better path forward for an amendment to this ordinance at a later date,” Hankins said.
The revised rules are expected to allow roosters but will introduce a licensing system for chickens and establish a process for managing those that become a nuisance. This shift aims to balance the needs of chicken owners with community concerns, ensuring that the new regulations are both fair and practical.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
