The Feral Chickens ('Moa') of Kaua'i (HI) October 2014
Why so many feral chickens The feral chickens of Hawaii ('moa' in Hawaiian) on Kaua'i?
There is no one reason the population is so high; it’s the combination of various events that allow chickens to seemingly outnumber people living on Kauai.
The first and most important reason is that Kauai has never had a serious predator to the chicken. Although the sugar cane industry introduced the mongoose (a small ferret-like animal from India) to help control the Polynesian- introduced rats from eating the stock of this highly valuable crop, the mongoose did not make it to Kauai. They are found on all the major Hawaiian Islands other than Kauai. These fierce little predators known for killing king cobras in Asia make quick work of eggs and young chicks.
Another primary event that has greatly contributed to Kauai’s prolific chicken population is nature’s release of domestic chickens into the wild, which has resulted in further breeding with Hawaii jungle fowl. Over recorded history, various hurricanes, tsunamis, and other weather events have released large populations of domestic birds into the wild. Hurricane Iniki on September 11, 1992 leveled Kauai, releasing many domestic birds into the wild.
Anyone that knows the Kauai chicken population can recognize the difference between a domestic, native, and cross-bred chicken. Certain colors, body shapes, and feathers make the moa (wild native jungle fowl) distinct. To the tourist, these wild chickens are distinct by their beautiful, vibrant and varied colors that stand out against any forest or town landscape.
The last major contributor to the Kauai chicken population is always a shocker even to people who have lived here all their lives. Kauai’s wild jungle fowl is protected. Under state law like all birds of Hawaii, the moa is protected as an important part of nature.
DSC_0081
The Feral Chickens ('Moa') of Kaua'i (HI) October 2014
Why so many feral chickens The feral chickens of Hawaii ('moa' in Hawaiian) on Kaua'i?
There is no one reason the population is so high; it’s the combination of various events that allow chickens to seemingly outnumber people living on Kauai.
The first and most important reason is that Kauai has never had a serious predator to the chicken. Although the sugar cane industry introduced the mongoose (a small ferret-like animal from India) to help control the Polynesian- introduced rats from eating the stock of this highly valuable crop, the mongoose did not make it to Kauai. They are found on all the major Hawaiian Islands other than Kauai. These fierce little predators known for killing king cobras in Asia make quick work of eggs and young chicks.
Another primary event that has greatly contributed to Kauai’s prolific chicken population is nature’s release of domestic chickens into the wild, which has resulted in further breeding with Hawaii jungle fowl. Over recorded history, various hurricanes, tsunamis, and other weather events have released large populations of domestic birds into the wild. Hurricane Iniki on September 11, 1992 leveled Kauai, releasing many domestic birds into the wild.
Anyone that knows the Kauai chicken population can recognize the difference between a domestic, native, and cross-bred chicken. Certain colors, body shapes, and feathers make the moa (wild native jungle fowl) distinct. To the tourist, these wild chickens are distinct by their beautiful, vibrant and varied colors that stand out against any forest or town landscape.
The last major contributor to the Kauai chicken population is always a shocker even to people who have lived here all their lives. Kauai’s wild jungle fowl is protected. Under state law like all birds of Hawaii, the moa is protected as an important part of nature.
DSC_0081