HONOLULU (KHON2) -- The feral chicken problem on Oahu seems to be growing and never-ending. One viewer said her calls to fix her problem weren't going anywhere. So, she called KHON2 Action Line.
Leslie Goodfriend, a Kalihi resident, has had enough with the feral chickens in her neighborhood.
"They start crowing at 7 a.m. and they don't shut up until 8 p.m.," said Goodfriend.
She works the graveyard shift, so the chickens interrupt her sleep. She's let her building management know, and called the city and pest control companies with no luck.
"No one seems to come up with a solution," said Goodfriend.
KHON2 has contacted the City Department of Customer Service who oversees the feral chicken issue.
"Well, relative to the other complaints that the city receives on other topics, this really isn't a huge issue," said Kim Hashiro, Director of the Department of Customer Service. "But we are aware that consistently calls will come in."
Since February 2022, the city said it's caught nearly 1,500 chickens on its properties. More than 430 chickens have been caught on private properties since last September.
They've received about 120 calls for feral chickens so far this year, compared to 160 for all of last year.
The department's website features an informational video about the nuisance issues like noise and potential health concerns. The website also clearly states that property owners where the chickens stay are responsible to remove them. The city does subsidize the cost.
"I want them to go to a farm in Waimanalo or wherever," said Goodfriend. "And breed and be on a farm. Not running around in town."
Managers at the Island West Apartments did not want to appear on camera. However, they said they are aware of the chicken issue and are taking steps to address the problem.
If chickens are on someone else's property, Hashiro said the best way to deal with the issue -- be a good neighbor and talk to them. She adds the number one rule -- do not feed the chickens.
"Usually what happens is feeding of chickens is what brings the chickens back to the same area and location." said Hashiro.