Netizens divided over Tanjong Pagar Town Council capturing free-roaming chickens after noise complaints

Netizens in two minds discussing wild chickens being caught in Tanjong Pagar over noise complaints

A Facebook user shared a post on 26 Oct, showing a video of Town Council staff chasing chickens in the Tanjong Pagar residential area.

The Original Poster, who identifies as Tommy, said the incident occurred at around 6.55pm along Lengkok Bahru Road and Jalan Tiong.

In the Facebook caption, Tommy said residents were complaining about early-morning crowing, saying that it was “affecting their sleep”.

Tommy identified the free-roaming chickens as red junglefowl, adding that the birds “add character, biodiversity, and a touch of kampong spirit to [the] concrete jungle”.

Acknowledging that it is a nuanced issue with both sides presenting strong cases, he invited netizens to discuss the issue.

Chickens did nothing wrong

The majority of netizens in the comments section were against the removal of the chickens.

A few of them mentioned preferring the chickens’ crowing to other noises made by humans.

Many also pointed out the chickens’ benefits to pest control by eating cockroaches and other undesirable bugs.

They also felt that removing the chickens catered to the complaints of only a few.

Some were critical of the complainants for being intolerant.

Little sympathy for chickens from some

However, there were also those who demonstrated little patience for the chickens.

One commenter approved of the Town Council’s actions, comparing it to crow culling.

A couple of others dismissed supportive commenters, telling them to bring the chickens home themselves.

One reply even tried to imply that supportive commenters only loved the chickens “for [their] curry chicken”.

Another commenter tried suggesting that catching the chickens could be a bonding activity for families and their children.

Hope for a measured approach

Tommy also shared more of his thoughts exclusively with MS News.

He explained that he posted the video to encourage constructive community discussion.

“Living in Singapore, we often talk about being a city in nature, and I feel that the wildlife around our neighbourhoods is part of what makes our environment unique,” he said.

Tommy empathises with residents whose sleep suffers from early-morning crowing.

At the same time, he also believes authorities should adopt a “more measured response” rather than immediately catching the birds after individual complaints.

He suggested that town councils first evaluate the severity of the issue and explore non-intrusive solutions, such as public education, anti-feeding campaigns, and humane population control.

Tommy also pointed out that estates frequently grapple with other pressing municipal issues, including high-rise littering, corridor smoking, and pest infestations, which often affect a broader segment of the community.

He urged authorities to tackle root causes such as irresponsible feeding and pet abandonment, which contribute directly to sudden spikes in free-roaming animal populations.

Ultimately, I hope we can take a more balanced approach, where residents’ concerns are heard, wildlife is treated humanely, and decisions are made with the interests of the wider community in mind.

Government aware of free-ranging chicken issue

Earlier this year, the Ministry of National Development (MND) released statements regarding wild chicken-related issues.

In response to a question in Parliament on 14 Jan, Member of Parliament (MP) David Hoe said MND has received “an average of about 2,000 instances of feedback related to free-ranging chickens in residential estates” over the past five years.

He added that National Parks Board (NParks) adopts a community- and science-based approach to manage the free-ranging chicken population.

When asked if the agency would consider piloting a chicken relocation program, Mr Hoe replied: “NParks does not have plans to relocate chickens to other spaces.”

MS News has also reached out to the Tanjong Pagar Town Council for more information.

Also read: ‘The most rule-abiding animal in S’pore’: Passer-by spots chicken crossing road during green light

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Featured image courtesy of Tommy.