Regulations on chickens are in the process of hatching at the Fort Dodge City Council table.

The council on Monday gave unanimous approval to the first reading of rules intended to provide clarity to current, vague ordinances.

The essential requirements of the proposed new rules are:

• No more than 10 birds on a property.

• No roosters or geese allowed.

• Birds must be kept in an enclosed area and inside a coop or hen house at night.

• Coops and hen houses must be in the back yard.

• Coops and hen houses must be at least 15 feet from the property line.

City Manager David Fierke said the city gets complaints about roosters because they are noisy. He added that complaints about loose chickens are also received. And he said the city gets calls from people who want to raise chickens and who inquire about what the rules are for doing so.

Fierke said the proposed rules were drafted after looking at what other Iowa cities have on the books.

He added that enforcement of any chicken rules will be complaint-driven.

“We’re not going to come out and check you,” Councilman Kim Alstott said.

“People doing the right thing and being courteous and respectful aren’t going to have any problems,” Councilman Cameron Nelson added.

The council received one suggestion from the public Monday. A citizen suggested requiring a minimum amount of space, such as four square feet, per bird rather than a hard and fast limit of 10 birds per property.

The chicken rules must be approved two more times to become law.