Welcome to Kauai, Hawaii, Where We Brake for Chickens

No one knows exactly where they all came from. The historical accounts as to why are as diverse as the feral fowl accumulation of which they speak. Some say the reason for the ever increasing population of wild chickens that freely roam the streets of Kauai, Hawaii, is because they have no natural predators. It has been told that when the rat population got out of control on Kauai, the sugar plantation companies imported mongooses to deal with the problem. When Kauai's shipment arrived one of the critters bit the dock hand that was unloading them. He bumped the shipping container they had arrived in knocking it into the ocean, therefore, the mongoose were never dispatched to perform their intended duties.

Other stories have them arriving to the island to be part of an illegal cockfighting enterprises that never got off the ground so they were released in the sugar cane fields, which they over populated, so they began roaming the residential and business districts scratching for food. Another story has them belonging to Kauai residents as pets and live stock that was widely dispersed as a result of the furious winds produced by Hurricane Iniki in 1992. Homeless and without a meal ticket any longer the chickens' survival instincts kicked in and there population increased until today when it nearly rivals the local human population.

What ever the cause of their massive assemblage, one fact remains clear, and is extremely evident to anyone who visits the Garden Island of Kauai, this island is a safe heaven for wild chickens. They are a pest. They will roost and crow outside your bedroom window anytime they please. They seem to be particularly fawn of starting crow-fest during the wee hours of early morning when you are usually getting your best sleep. They are not above begging. They are very aggressive about letting you know they would like something to eat. At some outdoor restaurants they will hop up on an empty table and watch you eat until you decide to share a part of your meal with them. But these inconveniences are not sufficient to motivate anyone to move to have them eradicated.

Kauai's wild chicken population has to be the happiest chicken community in the world. They have absolute total free reign on this island. They have no natural predators and even the islands' cats and dogs leave them be. The local residents would never consider eating one of them. They are very comfortable. So when you are driving around enjoying the beautiful sights of the Garden Island and you happen upon a mother hen, trailed by her parcel of chicks crossing the road in front of your vehicle STOP!!!, because we brake for chickens on Kauai.

Resource: Personal Experience