BIRD lovers in Alderney are furious about States plans to cull 50 chickens which roost close to the airport.
The General Services Committee has said it will kill the birds, which live at the bottom of La Source, unless a member of the public rehomes them.
The States says it has strong evidence that the birds present a serious threat to the water supply. Sibby Hugman, 61, who feeds the chickens daily, said: ‘I’m gutted. This is totally wrong. I bring my grandchildren up here and they absolutely love it.
‘The chickens are a landmark – people come from far and wide to watch and feed them.
‘They have their own water up here and don’t go near where the States says they’re going.’
Jeanne Mapp, 67, who also feeds the chickens every day, is angry about the plans. Mrs Mapp, who lives at Les Butes, said: ‘I am absolutely disgusted at what the States is proposing to do.
‘These chickens have lived here for years and they’ve never done anyone any harm.
‘It seems as if the States is victimising them. Other animals go near the water supply, but the States doesn’t want to kill them.
‘These chickens are perfectly healthy, so I can’t see what harm they’re doing.’
Mrs Hugman hoped someone would offer a reprieve for the birds.
She said: ‘We are all praying that people come forward and offer the chickens a new home.
‘We think the hens will be homed easily, but the cocks are noisy and a lot of people won’t put up with them.’
A States spokesman said: ‘The GSC was given strong evidence that the feral poultry flock, which has become established near the entrance to the airport, presents a serious threat to water quality in the Bonne Terre catchment.
‘In the interest of public health, it was decided the flock would need to be removed, if necessary by culling.
‘In the interests of animal welfare, it was decided that a period would be allowed for the possible rehoming of some or all of the birds.’
Article posted on 21st April, 2008 - 12.45pm
13 Article Comments
Keep the chickens! I thought the water is supposed to be treated before it’s supplied to homes anyway…
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Hands off the chickens, they are not doing any harm. As people say, they are a source of joy to all those who pass by. So far who has died as a result of the so-called harm they are doing?
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The 2 previos people are right. These chickens are well loved and I feed them as often as I can as well!!! This is another example of ‘Elf And safety gone mad that seems to be creeping into the island. We came here from the UK to get away from all this.
Which states members voted for this ????
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We holiday twice a year in Alderney, and its the first things we see and love. So what about the water in the Reservoirs, god only knows what that water has picked up or what has droped in it, As the lady before has said, don’t they treat the water before, it’s ready for the taps,
Come on you States members leave the wildlife alone, or help move the bird to a safe haven, if it bothers you that much.
Prove you can care for all sorts of animals.
Life is very short, so think about them.
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Only on Alderney could the fate of chickens arouse such outrage. Are these chickens free range and organic ! If so worth a few bob. I think there are far worse problems on Alderney to sort out than cull chickens !
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Why should we have to put even MORE chlorine in our water supply to kill off bugs from a flock of chickens which serve nothing more than to desecrate an area of the Island which used to be green and pleasant, and is now black and barren. I agree with the above comment. We have more serious problems than a cull chickens!
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Keep the chickens. Apart from the inherent arrogance in killing animals that do not hurt anyone, they add some color and originality to an otherwise barren place
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get rid of them!!!! there dangerous constantly wandering in the road its suprising there actually hasnt been an accident…i dont think the insurance would cover chickin related incidents!!! fair enough if there going to be penned in to a degree…..e.g so they stop wandering over the stop line etc.
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If this stupid manifestation of bureaucracy comes to pass, this will truly be a sad moment for the island. My kids will be very disappointed if they are removed. It really is one of the highlights of their holiday and is one of the features that makes Alderney, well, Alderney. Overall, Alderney has remained remarkably unchanged over the 50 years I have been visiting, but some recent developments are leading me to rethink my affection. Part of the island’s attraction is its combination of civilisation and anarchy, both of which are embodied by these chickens. In addition, I really can’t understand the health issue here. Using the same logic, does the States plan to get rid of all the cows, cats, dogs and other animals? Surely the poop of a few chickens can be dealt with either naturally or by filtering. And as for the person above who complained of the chickens being a traffic hazard, I have a very short answer: Drive more slowly!
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The chickens are no more dangeous to motorists thatn rabbits. And anyway, if you know your highway code you should not swerve or do an emergency stop for any wild animal on the highway. And for Bill Walden to say they are polluting the water – there are thousands of wild birds that fly over the quarries and bon terre where our drinking water is stored and collected droping into these area’s too!! Maybe we should kill these too!! Or maybe lets just leave nature to itself. Thats what OUR island is all about.
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It isnt just Mr Walden is it though I believe that a newly elected States member is the person behind this mindless act of killing.
The company that advises on the water in this island has stated that this is not a problem and that this is absolutely not necessary.
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Having read through the Dean manifesto when he asked voters to vote for him last December I see that he stated that there should be more open government and that the people of Alderney should be kept informed of what is going on in the States meeting. According to the article in the current Alderney News he is now saying that results of the tests made on the water vis a vis the chickens will not be made public and that he believes that they should not be made public. Is this open government as he sees it then?
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These chickens represent what Alderney means to the holidaymaker, a relaxed different way of life. Where else in the world could you go and see wild chickens next to an airport. What the states of Alderney really want to do is to clean up the area in preparation of a £400,000 investment by some private company in the airport and the chickens do not fit in with their new planned image.
Perhaps the states of Alderney should consider the considerable loss of revenue from loss of returning holidaymakers who support keeping the chickens.
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