Is it legal to shoot a feral chicken on your own property with a pellet gun?
Probably need a head shot to kill it. Is this legal if it's on your own property and the projectile doesn't leave your property?
Asking for a friend

Is it legal to shoot a feral chicken on your own property with a pellet gun?
Probably need a head shot to kill it. Is this legal if it's on your own property and the projectile doesn't leave your property?
Asking for a friend

Back in small kid time on North Shore, it was so country that this question was moot.  But totally understandable nowadays.  I'd bet today on the North Shore and everywhere else on this island this question is a viable one.

Don't ask, don't tell. . . wait, different topic, but I think same same. . .

My sister looked into this.  She lives Nuuanu area and she and her neighbor have been having issues with feral chickens.  They mostly stay in another neighbor's property.  I suggested some "pest deterrent" methods, including say airsoft, but she doesn't want to even do that.  Her neighbor was willing to do more and their research was not allowed, but don't have all the details. 

But like QS mentioned, depends where the property is.  My friends who live in Haleiwa and elsewhere on North Shore do not have problems with feral chickens. . .

Look at you being all polite and asking permission. That's adorable. 

Look at you being all polite and asking permission. That's adorable. 

 

Just like the Vance/Walz debate.  All nice and polite.

Then after the debate the daggers come out once more......

Psst....in other words when no one is looking, cap that damn chicken.

Honolulu hatches a plan to crack down on noisy feral chickenshttps://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2023-09-15/honolulu-hatches-a-plan-to-crack-down-on-noisy-feral-chicken-problem

Haitan's have entered the chat.

If I remember the peacock case, you need to eat the chicken. The lady was facing 20 years in prison for beating a peacock to death, but when her defense team said she was going to eat it, she got off, but I don't remember the details too much.

Just get a big cat

https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=45380.msg419430#msg419430

It is unlawful to feed feral chickens/cats or shoot them for no reason (animal cruelty again)..

    Had a similar issue with a neighbor (tenant) feeding the chickens in her yard and then the whole flock would come over to my place crap and tear up the garden/ plants.
I started picking them off  with airgun in my yard and she called the cops.

cop.. You shooting chickens with pellet gun ?
me.. Yup
cop... you can't shoot air gun in yard
me... Explain rules about projectile not leaving property.
cop...shooting chickens is animal cruelty.
me ...I'm not being cruel, I am hunting them to feed my dog.
cop... Got  a hunting license ?
me... no need hunting license for chickens, no such thing.

   I then inform him that feeding feral chickens is illegal.
first offense was $50, second $100 forgot what the third offense cost.
(This was back in the days when the Boy scouts were doing "Chicken Round ups" for $5 per head. 2004ish ?).

  Cop went over and wrote her a $50 ticket, end of problem. 

Can't find that law (not really looking) but it looks like they tried to increase the fines.
https://www.civilbeat.org/beat/feeding-feral-chickens-could-result-in-500-penalty/
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« Last Edit: April 07, 2022, 01:17:43 PM by Rocky »

p.s.
Head shot not required though does make them ALMOST drop in their tracks.
Vital shot thru wing to organs works but you may have to walk 5'-10'.
(assuming your not shooting a Daisy Red Ryder range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time.”)
Most .177 doing minimum 1,100 fps will do, alloy pellets can give you another 200 fps

SNIP

It is unlawful to feed feral chickens/cats or shoot them for no reason (animal cruelty again)..

Reason?  They make noise at 3 am! 

Maui and Honolulu have the vague, broad anti-airgun law that discourages use of airguns but as far as I know hasn't been tested out legally. (And I would love to know if it has been argued in court yet.)

I don't know about the other jurisdictions.

It is NOT illegal to kill chickens, no more illegal than killing rats. You just can't be cruel while you do it. They have no legal protection.

Cats most definitely do have legal protection.

A small crossbow with bolts tethered on a fishing rig is quiet, keeps the chicken on your property, and the tether can ensure the projectile stays on your property.

Or traps. Lots of trapping techniques out there.

Be careful when you do kill.
I got tired of listening to roosters crowing at 0230 hrs.
after months of it I, shot them.
One had been adopted as a pet by my tenant,
I did not know this, and I got an ear full.
I think I would have let the bird live out its life
rather than hear the grief of a lost "pet".
I will buy some more chickens, but no roosters.
 

Is there like a way to "fix" roosters so their crowing is muted? 

Sort of like when we neuter cats and dogs.

I think chickens are pretty neat animals and if we aren't going to eat them maybe this would be an alternative.