Comments on: New Measures To Combat Feral Chickens

By: MP Terry Lister: Feral Chickens Bill Failed To Fly | Bernews.com

MP Terry Lister: Feral Chickens Bill Failed To Fly | Bernews.com — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 15:14:04 +0000

[...] Bermudians are all too aware of the feral chicken problem, and last year Government estimated that there were over 30,000 chickens roaming the island, and said the numbers continue to [...]

By: Over 7,250 Feral Chickens Culled To Date | Bernews.com

Over 7,250 Feral Chickens Culled To Date | Bernews.com — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:26:03 +0000

[...] summer Government estimated that there are over 30,000 feral chickens roaming the island, a number which they said was continuing to [...]

By: SPCA Expresses Concern Over Bird Poisonings | Bernews.com

SPCA Expresses Concern Over Bird Poisonings | Bernews.com — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 23:50:04 +0000

[...] summer Government estimated that there are over 30,000 feral chickens roaming the island, a number which they said was continuing to [...]

By: blockade runner

blockade runner — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 04:24:40 +0000

most of those chickens are game birds and probably only lay 30 or so eggs a year, mostly in the spring when the land has the most food.

By: blockade runner

blockade runner — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 04:21:28 +0000

chickens are the foundation of our civilization, 6000 years ago a vietnamese hunter put some junglefowl in his hut and didnt have to chase pigs anymore. chickens are the cheapest meat available in the shop. the chicken is by far the biggest flock of birds on earth and there are over 32 billion right now.our bermudian civilization would collapse without chickens, we need them much more than they need us. the government doesnt have 3 years without chickens

By: mary smith

mary smith — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 02:39:45 +0000

right on the spot..there are too many feral children running wild,cusing,abusing,stealing from ppl..So what’s with that???..what is the remedy for this urgent problem..at least the chickens are not on our social financial assistance programm..which btw is the highest cost for the entire island.

By: cockroach politicians

cockroach politicians — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 02:36:14 +0000

they have done anything for feral youths..who running amok on Bermuda..except build a hotel prisoner for them..even supplying their jocks…shame and more shame to the plp..if anybody needs to go is the plp

By: cockroach politicians

cockroach politicians — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 02:33:54 +0000

U’r special for giving your voice to the voiceless..it is shameless and disgusting that the minister wants to eradicate these endearing birds..ty for educa.us..

By: cockroach politicians

cockroach politicians — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 02:31:05 +0000

The chickens have multifacet uses..they CONTROL our major bug problem..the cockroaches..their dropping is good source of fertiliser..now what have the plp done for Bermuda lately or ever?

By: G.somers

G.somers — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 02:28:40 +0000

Just how they eradicate the cohows,skinks,longtails and now the chickens.. they are no menace but the hostile drug dealers are DANGEROUS TO THE EXISTENCE OF BERMUDA.The plp got nobody to put blame..tired use the race card so now they after the defenceless birds without voices to eradicate..plp should go…they have done more damage to Bermuda than a 30,000 chickens..bye plp …and leave our chickens alone…

By: tenisha..

tenisha.. — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 02:24:06 +0000

how about feral youths? who are allow to sell drugs in every corner,commit murder,steal,rape,defeacate in parks,postoffice,public places,run amok with their loud noices on their bike,,run amok with their loud noices on their run amok with their loud noices on theirmaking all the rest of Bermuda lock in for fear of feral youths…..At least the chickens contribute as law abiding,an attraction to the tourists,their guano droppings help fertilise the soil,artist use as interesting subjects to paint,many tourist products dipict the brave bird on porcelain,t.shirts,mugs,bags ect.The lowly chicken has many pluses and should STAY as part of the Bermuda scene..Minister you are dumb and conceited with your dumb and dumber ideas..

By: Mayan

Mayan — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 22:00:45 +0000

I think people are willing to kill the chickens but hesitate to kill the chicks because they’re cute…and it seems so callous to kill a baby of any species (except sheep!). Therefore, people just leave the chicks alone but they don’t stay chicks forever.

I’m guilty as well. I wouldn’t want to kill a poor, helpless baby chick. My kids once came home with a baby chick they found all alone. I was like-what am I going to do with this thing? So we went back to the general area they found it, where there are a bunch of chickens. I looked for the first mother chicken I saw, sneaked up and released the chick right next to her babies.

I know it wasn’t his mother but he went along with her anyway. She must have wondered what happened when she turned around and had five babies instead of four. Poor thing probably had to go on benefits after that…

By: Mayan

Mayan — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 21:53:44 +0000

@Cheryl: I believe it. I once saw a program about how they pump chickens full of steroids/hormones to advance their age-it’s like giving a human baby drugs to speed it through from babyhood to adulthood-bypassing puberty-in like just a few years . They pump chickens full of steroids turning them into the chicken equivalent of the Incredible Hulk so we get nice big chicken breasts and stuff but it’s not natural.

Then we eat all that stuff, thus eating what the chicken, cow, lamb etc. have been exposed to. Then we wonder why we have antibiotic resistant diseases and the like out there-due to the antibiotics we’re inadvertently taking that we don’t need. Also, they think that’s part of the reason kids are going through puberty earlier-due to the hormones they’re getting second-hand from meat.

I won’t even get into how many of the chickens, cows, etc. are sick and diseased before they kill them for food. That’s why I very rarely eat meat.

By: Libby Cook-Toppan

Libby Cook-Toppan — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 16:18:48 +0000

I am so sick of hearing about culling the chickens! Tourists LOVE them (I’ve often seen tourists on the sides of the roads snapping pics of hens and chicks). They offer natural pesticide and organic fertilizer for the roadsides…have you ever stopped to watch them eating bugs, carefully scratching through the undergrowth? Why not set up a chicken farm at the prisons for feeding the needy with eggs and meat? Don’t even begin to tell me their eggs are no good…they are no different than the ones you buy at the stores, just slightly smaller and much fresher! They live a very hard life, killed by dogs and cats, ill treated by people and yet they are one of the most beautiful birds. Have you ever taken a moment to look at how beautiful their feathers are? I’ve witnessed children being allowed to chase violently after chickens with their parents laughing and urging them on…disgusting! Chickens are one of the most maligned creatures and yet they are so compassionate and intelligent. Did you know that a mother hen talks to her chicks even while in their eggs? That a chicken can recognize more than 200 different faces? That a mother hen will protect her chicks with her life? In their natural environment chickens are fastidiously clean and preen their feathers every day? A rooster, when he finds something good to eat will call his flock to eat before himself…seriously look it up (http://www.think-differently-about-sheep.com/Chicken-facts.htm)…Chickens make wonderful pets too…I had chickens as a child and we did the same for our son, who adores his chickens (one even behaved like a parrot and rode around on his shoulder). We have a farmed area on our property and its been there for decades and we have NEVER had any problems with the chickens eating the produce…if anything they provide the most effective pesticide…as mentioned before. What is wrong with people here??? People think its ok to chain up dogs in the heat and keep them in tiny cages….cats are discarded like old handbags…Heaven help us if a war was to break out and our food imports were interrupted…bet your bottom dollar people would be out there fighting over those chickens. Show some compassion Bermuda and leave the chickens alone! We have far more pressing issues at hand than this!

By: eyeinthesky

eyeinthesky — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:04:34 +0000

30,000 who are these people that estimated this number. Can’t be that much on the island we would have them coming out of the woodwork! SMH comon Minister Weeks! 30,000? I know its election year but now we are embellishing the chix count!

By: Watching On

Watching On — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 14:50:57 +0000

Can someone please let us know how to contact this Chicken Man…I am sure he also know where the eggs are. I need me some fresh eggs

By: Lady

Lady — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:34:20 +0000

Oh my goodness……..what a hilarious story!!! Almost spit my tea that time!! Thank you for the gut wrenching laugh.

By: LOL (original TM*)

LOL (original TM*) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 12:25:40 +0000

Leave my World War 3 food. We’ll need them sooner if things keep going the way their going.

LOL

By: Erica

Erica — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 11:46:18 +0000

Just do your jobs. We don’t need press conferences to announce that what a Dept should be doing will get done! Electioneering at its finest. My friend has been assisting with this problem for years but nobody wants to pay him. It’s a nominal fee but he has to pay for his gas and time spent catching.

I’m more concerned of the pigeon problem. They actually can make us sick from pooping on our roofs.

By: cheryl

cheryl — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 11:22:25 +0000

and a follow up to my recent post, looked out my window this morning a roaster, 2 hens and 10 more babies in my yard….here we go again….

By: cheryl

cheryl — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 11:21:30 +0000

can u imagine paying $1.50 or some reasonable price for local eggs instead of $3 something.. put the local dealer right out of business..

By: cheryl

cheryl — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 11:20:08 +0000

if people knew what exactly was pumped into those store bought chickens they wouldnt eat them.. and that is a fact as i know someone who raises them for tyson in NC… steroids.. they come in as babies and in 6 weeks they are adults and ready for the table..

By: Moonbeam

Moonbeam — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 10:38:26 +0000

about time ! — talk about shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted !!!

By: Peace

Peace — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 01:29:32 +0000

Birdcage Lane

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 01:16:25 +0000

Wonderful to see the PLP finally dealing with a really important issue. Who cares about that $2b debt, ferries that don’t run, millions wasted on apartments nobody wants, the Exodus of IB, the emigration of Bermudians. None of these are important to the PLP but feral chickens are.

By: Tough Chickens

Tough Chickens — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 23:07:33 +0000

It is a small business for someone. It has been for years now. I’m sure he is not making cat food out of the chickens though.

By: pepper

pepper — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 22:59:15 +0000

Smallfish, all this lot talk about is what they are going to do !!!!! all you here from them is down the road this will be the plan or we are looking to the conerns of our citizens…. but nothing is being done.. as a famous gentleman said ” HOW LONG MUST WE WAIT ”
Bermudians you must be concerned about all of the business’s that are closing this is just the start of what is to come….but in a few days or so you will be shocked who are also calling it quits…..as our premier says we must “stand tall ” what a joke…

By: Politely Pompous

Politely Pompous — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 22:52:32 +0000

To clarify-it was a rooster, not a chicken…

By: Politely Pompous

Politely Pompous — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 22:51:16 +0000

I recently saw a chicken strolling up a residential road, stop in his tracks, then come flying back down the road with a white guy in a suit chasing it with his hands outstretched like he was going to strangle it. I assume the chicken kept going on the guy’s property and maybe messing up his garden or something.

The chicken was running so fast-I couldn’t believe it. Chickens are intelligent so I assume he recognized the guy who had probably tried to catch him before. The chicken was like ‘Feet don’t fail me now!’ and the guy was all red with anger just determined to wring that chicken’s neck…you’d think he caught the chicken in bed with his wife or something.

The whole scene was so unexpected…My husband and I were in our car dying laughing…

By: Politely Pompous

Politely Pompous — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 22:43:52 +0000

Yeah, I’ll bet most of those chickens are way more healthy than any we buy in the supermarket that are pumped full of hormones, antibiotics and god knows what else. I’m sure they’re perfectly safe to eat.

I wonder if there’s an option of exporting them to a country in need? I’m sure there’s got to be someone who’d be happy to have them for food and eggs…

By: Politely Pompous

Politely Pompous — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 22:41:17 +0000

You can’t compare a cat to a chicken. The cat problem could be solved if owners weren’t so darned irresponsible. It’s not their fault irresponsible humans don’t spay/neuter their pets. I’ve even known of people who move and leave their cat behind to fend for itself. That is so cruel to me…would you leave your kid behind to fend for themself as well?

At least feral cats serve a purpose and keep the rat population in check…plus the Feline Assoc. does a lot to trap, spay/neuter them and release them. I don’t find the comment about eating cats the least bit funny.

By: Country Gal

Country Gal — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 21:43:32 +0000

It could be a small business for the right person.
Collect the chickens, humanely euthanize and make yummy cat food for all the feral cats.

By: Tough Chickens

Tough Chickens — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 21:39:51 +0000

There is someone who removes feral chickens on the island but low and behold the government didn’t want to pay. Now it’s a problem. As usual, the lack of foresight has produced yet another big problem. There aren’t any chickens keeping me up at night. One call to the ‘chicken man’ and they are gone. And I also know that some of the chickens caught have actually fed the alligator. Perhaps the government should hire an overpaid consultant to guide them through this issue and then hire an overseas firm to remove them. Surely, if history is to be any lesson, that is the correct course of action. SMH.

By: Precious

Precious — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 20:46:28 +0000

I say leave the chickens alone and train them to combat the growing infestation of foolish politicians!

By: andre

andre — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 20:30:52 +0000

You have not had one hit you in the head at 20MPH have you!

By: Chad Sorbet

Chad Sorbet — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 20:14:52 +0000

At last. I live in Cobbs Hill Road and the proliferation of chickens in this area is terrible. Some Filipinos gentlemen have started to catch them.

By: Expat who is leaving

Expat who is leaving — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 19:51:14 +0000

Comedy. The country is bankrupt, the tax base is shrinking, companies are leaving, local business is closing, crime is growing, unemployment is increasing…and the chickens are procreating at a rate that would make Dame Lois proud!

Good thing our ministers are focused on the real issues, what a hilarious PR event. is this not why we have a zillion public servants to handle operational issues like this?

Is there anything that is going right here anymore?

Seriously, hire one decent hunter, pay him $5 per chicken, problem solved in 3 months.

The PLP can’t even organize a chicken cull!!!!

By: Come Correct

Come Correct — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 19:32:36 +0000

Should have used and electric scooter, just don’t get caught by de man…

By: LOLA

LOLA — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 19:30:17 +0000

I think this would be a could produce business in the making, if we have all these chickens why isnt there a poultry factory in the making hence more jobs. They can breed as much healthy chickens they want in a confined area, chicken at marketplace wouldnt cause so much nor the eggs. Definitely help our economy a little.

By: Watching On

Watching On — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 19:14:06 +0000

Exactly why I asked about the eggs…these eggs can be sold for a small fortune. I understand the eggs are delicious when cooked.

Come on someone, name the places where they are plenty chickens, time for me to go egg hunting. Yummy

By: Chicken Eater

Chicken Eater — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:41:58 +0000

The cats can be spayed/nuetured and released, then they won’t reproduced. There is not a similar option for chickens.

By: ABM

ABM — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:18:34 +0000

What about the feral cats?! Their numbers must far outway that of the chickens.

By: it only hurts when I breath

it only hurts when I breath — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:03:56 +0000

How about NEW MEASURES TO COMBAT FERAL POLITICIANS???

There are so many in this lame government that it would be doing a great service to the Island, and not to say our economy, to get rid of these at the same time!!

By: Mar

Mar — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:34:33 +0000

Oh for crying out loud! Leave the chickens alone! Isn’t there more pressing matters out there to deal with. Shake My Head.

By: Ride

Ride — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:21:30 +0000

@Serious Though

I agree that there should be a program that condones capture and animal husbanding for eggs and meat. This is preferred rather than a wasteful solution of culling or an environmentally hazardous solution of poisoning.

It could be two fold. One part animal husbandry education on keeping the animals for eggs and humanely slaughtering the animal and dressing the carcass for meat. Of course some testing of the chicken before it is used for either to ensure it is safe. Although I gather they are much safer than the steroid and antibiotic injected, light and space deprived carrion we normally purchase at our grocer.

The other part could be a bounty for live feral chickens. I say live as this will insure they are correctly euthanised. Some measures would have to be taken to ensure people do not raid persons hen houses of chickens for the bounty.

I believe there are a lot of individuals and families that would husband or consume these chickens if they knew how. The result of eggs and meat for more effort than a trip to the grocer’s but, I expect, less cost.

Ride

By: Here fishy fishy

Here fishy fishy — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:19:29 +0000

Floating above de ground?? Or perhaps in a nest on the ground

By: island girl

island girl — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 16:58:22 +0000

That would keep Oscar, the alligator at BAMZ, fed for years to come!

By: Joonya

Joonya — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 16:41:28 +0000

I remember I was haffhott once trying to chase one of those.
Them bastids are quick!

By: Making sense...

Making sense... — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 16:31:06 +0000

About 10 years ago I noticed that not only was the general public was apathetic about feral chickens, they were also apathetic to the burgeoning issue of feral children aka misbehaving teens. Now the chickens have all come to roost. Both of them are public menaces. When Bermuda gets tough with the feral chickens, they can also take a stand against feral children. Cluck cluck cluck

By: Serious Though

Serious Though — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 16:24:54 +0000

let me know too!