Evans City Council members will vote on an ordinance that would regulate birds on a property. Hens and roosters at an Evans Street home are raising a stink.

EVANS CITY — The borough council has cooked up an ordinance that would answer the Evans Street flap over a flock of chickens.

The council on Monday voted to approve the advertisement of an ordinance that would regulate how chickens may be kept in the borough.

The ordinance would include regulations on the number and type of birds allowed on a property.

The issue hatched in July, when Pat Dunbar told the council members that she was upset because her next-door neighbor’s chickens render her back yard unusable because of the crowing and stench.

The online borough code book currently states that it is illegal for any resident to “own, possess, harbor or control any animal or bird which makes any noise continuously and/or incessantly for a period of 10 minutes or makes such noise intermittently for ½ hour.”

Dunbar said she was told by borough officials she could record the noise with equipment, but that would cost $200.

The council in July had a discussion on the roosters in the flock, with two council members saying they have heard the crowing themselves.

Councilman Karl Kennedy said at that time that a rooster is not necessary for the production of eggs.

The chicken owner, Pam Seitz, came forward after her neighbor’s complaints to say when she bought the six birds from a farm store, she was told they were all female.

Seitz said the roosters do crow at certain times of the day, but she cleans up and disposes of the manure to prevent any smell in the neighborhood.

She said she has no plans to replace the roosters, which are now more than four years old. The average life span of a chicken is six years, Seitz said.

The vote on the new ordinance is expected at the 6 p.m. meeting of council on Nov. 7.

“It’s for the health, safety and welfare of our community members,” councilman Kim Armstrong said Monday night.