Titirangi chickens to be removed and sent to new homes

Brian from New Lynn

The removal and rehoming of 100 to 200 wild chickens in Titirangi Village is expected to begin in October.
Auckland Council has confirmed that green asset management specialists, Treescape, will be undertaking the removal of the famed chooks. Although the process may sound straightforward, Auckland Council delivery business manager Sam Pohiva says a number of variables will make their removal from the West Auckland suburb "a complex operation". "It will involve the installation of coops for the chickens, a period of pre-feeding before their removal, and housing of the chickens at a different location once captured until re-homing is possible," says Pohiva. The rehoming process is expected to take four weeks. The council assures the birds will be captured humanely, with vets on-board to monitor their health and welfare during removal. Aucklanders who have expressed interest in housing the chickens will also be thoroughly vetted to ensure the birds are heading to humane conditions. The Waitakere Ranges Local Board made the decision to remove and rehome the birds in July after a significant increase in their population caused public health and safety issues. A number of Titirangi residents and businesses had raised concerns over the "disruptive" chooks, with many correlating the local increase in rats to the feeding of the chickens. Capturing and rehoming the 100 to 200 birds is expected to cost between $17,500 and $22,500 - meaning a price tag of up to $112 a chicken.
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