Complaints regarding birds on La Route de l'Aleval, St Peter (FOI)

Request

A

How many noise / nuisance complaints were received in the last five years regarding the wild birds / chickens / cockerels etc located on La Route de l'Aleval, St Peter JE3 7EU?
B

Why was the cull ordered of the wild birds / chickens / cockerels etc along La Route de l'Aleval, St Peter JE3 7EU in February 2020 and who carried out the cull?

C

Is there a plan to repeat the cull in the future?

Response

A

There have been two complaints received in relation to La Route de l'Aleval in the last five years. It should be noted, however, that due to limitations within the search capacity of the system there may be further complaints which have not been identified by this search. For example, if the complaint was logged against the complainant's property and not specifically against La Route de l'Aleval, it would not be picked up by the search.

B

Following a number of complaints from residents in three separate affected areas, Environmental Heath (now Housing and Nuisance) employed a licenced contractor, in conjunction with the appropriate landowners' consent, to remove the feral birds.

In addition to causing a significant noise nuisance, these feral birds can reproduce at high rates, can destroy gardens, are a potential risk to human health (most notably Avian Influenza, Salmonella and Toxoplasmosis), act as a reservoir of fowl mite, scavenge through refuse and can be a risk to road users. In the event of Avian Influenza, it should be noted that with uncontrolled numbers they could put other birds at risk.

Environmental Health has previously tried several tactics to deal with feral chickens including setting traps. Attempts were unsuccessful in reducing their numbers.

Rehoming individual birds was also tried and requests have been made to potential homes from those with the land to house them. This has been largely unsuccessful as the cockerels continue to be disruptive in their new homes.

In addition, anyone keeping poultry needs to register with the States vet so in the event of a disease outbreak, officers can communicate quickly, and this may dissuade individuals.

The method of shooting with an air gun was chosen for the humane removal of the chickens as it has been successful in other jurisdictions with large feral chicken populations for example, Bermuda. This was taken at night as the birds are naturally roosting and it was the most effective time to do so.

The growing population of these birds and the real effect they can have on the natural environment as well as the residents who live nearby, required us to take action on this occasion.

C

At the current time there are no plans to repeat the cull.