Kauai Vacation Blog

Your Colorado Ohana's Guide to Kauai

Kauai is known for its large population of wild chickens, a result of Hurricane Iniki in 1992 that scattered them across the island. With no natural predators initially, their numbers grew significantly. Recently, the introduction of feral cats has helped reduce the chicken population, which now coexists with these new residents.

By

Mike and Joc

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Why Kauai is Overrun with Wild Chickens

If you’ve never been to Kauai, you may have heard rumors that there are a lot of wild chickens on the island.

News to you?

The rumors are true. The island is swarming with chickens. You’ll see them as you’re leaving the airport. Hens with chicks in tow. And oh so many roosters.

The roosters crow all day long. And often all night long, or at least long before dawn.

Where did they come from?

According to legend, back in 1992 when Hurricane Iniki struck Kauai, the storm blew apart chicken coups across the island, scattering the chickens who now roam freely. And since they had no natural predators on the island, their population multiplied.

The chicken population has noticeably decreased in recent years following the introduction of feral cats to the island. So now, in addition to the chickens, expect to see cats roaming. Know that they’re there to keep the chickens in check.

Here’s a preview of the sound of Kauai:

The Sound of Kauai

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