Oahu Residents and City Clash Over Feral Chicken Control Methods

Oahu’s feral chicken population remains a point of intense local friction as city officials and animal rescue groups disagree on how to manage the birds.

The City and County of Honolulu has spent more than three years attempting to regulate the growing number of chickens roaming public and private lands. While some residents view the birds as a nuisance, others see them as animals deserving of protection and sanctuary.

“They’re really a nuisance, and we don’t want them around,” said Kim Hashiro, Director of the Department of Customer Services.

The city’s trapping strategy

To address the population, the city utilizes a system of traps placed in high-traffic or problem areas, such as Kapiʻolani Park. These efforts rely on baiting the birds with food and water to encourage them to enter the devices.

The current operational protocol involves placing 10 to 12 traps in various locations, often clustering them in groups of two or three. City staff members check these traps on a daily basis to manage the captured birds.

Oahu Residents and City Clash Over Feral Chicken Control Methods

“They will check the traps daily, and if there is a chicken that’s in the trap, they will remove the chicken and humanely dispose of the chicken,” Hashiro told KITV Island News.

City officials have expressed frustration with community interference, noting that the effectiveness of the program is being undermined by residents. Hashiro emphasized that the success of the current strategy depends on public compliance.

“What we really need is cooperation from the community, not to feed chickens and not to touch our traps, and let the traps do their job,” Hashiro said.

Oahu’s feral chicken debate: A growing problem, divided opinions — Island News

Rescue groups push for relocation

The tension between the city and animal welfare advocates centers on the ultimate fate of the captured birds. While the city focuses on disposal to control numbers, rescue organizations argue for a more restorative approach involving sanctuaries and egg population management.

Brian Burns, President and founder of Troopers Chicken Rescue, has become a leading voice for the birds. His organization has taken in many animals as the debate intensifies.

“The whole premise there is to relocate the birds to a sanctuary and then start controlling the egg population,” said Brian Burns.

Since March, Troopers Chicken Rescue has rescued more than 400 chickens. However, the scale of the problem has pushed the organization to its limits, prompting calls for more formal cooperation between non-profits and government entities.

“We cannot sustain without support from the city and state, and we’re ready to partner, but we can’t do it alone, and the city can’t do it alone, obviously,” Burns said.

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The debate highlights a fundamental disagreement regarding the viability of alternative solutions.

“We’re not relocating or placing the chickens. We have looked into that and have not found a viable solution,” Hashiro said.

Reporting chicken issues on Oahu

As the conflict continues, the city has provided specific channels for residents to address the presence of feral chickens depending on where the birds are located. This distinction is important for those dealing with feral chickens.

City Property: Residents can report problems on public land through HNL 311.
Private Property: For issues on residential or commercial private land, the city’s pest-control vendor can be contacted directly at 808-456-7716.