Stanislaus officials look at rooster limits

Roosters might roost in fewer numbers in Stanislaus County under an anti-fighting proposal discussed Monday.

County officials said they are exploring how numerical limits on certain rural properties might be paired with the existing ban on rooster fighting to help keep the birds from danger.

The county has had 57 reports of fighting over the past five years, said Angela Freitas, director of planning and community development. Among them was a Feb. 7 raid on Grimes Avenue, just west of Modesto, where sheriff’s deputies reported finding about 200 roosters, most of them dead or badly injured.

“The neighbors out on Grimes have been very vocal that they want something done,” Freitas told the county Agricultural Advisory Committee, which makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors.

The committee did not discuss the issue at length but did ask that the county staff keep it updated on the developing ordinance.

The county allows roosters on residential parcels of more than an acre for the purpose of “small livestock farming.”

The number limit was suggested by Grimes resident Connie Goesch, who said she has had problems with both fights and all-day noise from the birds. She was not at the meeting but said later that she was glad the issue is getting attention.

Goesch supports numerical limits like those in San Diego County. It allows just one rooster on half-acre parcels and up to 20 on properties larger than 5 acres. It also bans tethering of the birds and requires that they have enough space to spread their wings. Commercial poultry farms are not affected, nor are 4-H or FFA chapters.

The Grimes raid resulted in the arrest of homeowner Efrain Marcucci, 37, on a misdemeanor animal cruelty charge. He is scheduled for an Aug. 1 pretrial hearing in Stanislaus Superior Court. Deputies also detained about 20 other men that day and reported finding an enclosure and metal spurs for fighting.

This story was originally published June 13, 2016 at 6:23 PM with the headline "Stanislaus officials look at rooster limits."