Honolulu officials urge public to stop feeding feral chickens

City and County officials on Oahu are calling on residents and tourists to stop feeding the island’s growing feral chicken population. The birds have become a widespread nuisance, causing property damage to yards and gardens, creating hygiene concerns through droppings, and obstructing roadways in areas such as Aiea and Waimalu.

To combat the issue, the Department of Customer Services has launched a public education campaign featuring signs in parks and on public transit, alongside an animated public service announcement. While trapping teams have been deployed, officials report that efforts are being undermined by individuals who vandalize or tamper with the traps.

Department of Customer Services Director Kim Hashiro stated that the city cannot tackle the problem alone and requested cooperation from all community members to allow pest-control teams to work safely. The issue has persisted for years, and previous attempts to secure state funding through legislation have failed to advance.