Several years ago a mysterious person or group began
distributing chickens at various rest-stops around New Zealand. Their colourful cheeky presence brightened many a traveller’s day.
The chickens thrived in their wild condition, helped along
by a public who generally adored them.
The chickens were colourful and friendly, and great for
feeding picnic scraps to.
But obviously they became a problematic issue once they
began breeding prolifically.
Quietly and methodically, officialdom has slowly removed all
these birds. I can think of only one
lay-by now where there are still chickens and that is actually on private land.
These photos were taken of chickens that were living at a
country picnic spot near to our house. They would
wander through every day on their search for food. We used to provide water for them.
We always enjoyed their daily visit J
Margaret.
LINKED TO Viewing Nature With Eileen
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the chicken photos and their story. We have some wild chickens in different USA cities, like Key West Florida. Have a great day!
How unusual and interesting!
ReplyDeleteI always enjoyed the free range chickens my grandparents had. The eggs were so fresh and tasty too.
It's too bad the chickens became a problem because they must have been a pleasure to watch. At least they still find a home on that private land. They certainly looked well fed. It was nice of you to put out water for them.
ReplyDeleteWhat a strange thing to do, but I guess the chickens are thriving. - Margy
ReplyDeleteWhat a funny thing! I'd like to have such nice visitors too!
ReplyDeleteIt really is too bad that some bureaucrat decided that the chickens had become a problem, when people obviously enjoyed them so much. A problem in whose eyes? It seems to me that as soon as any animal other than ourselves becomes successful we resent it. Yet here we are, wise and all-knowing humans, overbreeding ourselves into oblivion and nudging the world population ever closer to ten billion. Human arrogance makes me sick.
ReplyDeleteI think they knew the public would complain, that is why they have done it over a period of time and very quietly. Human wisdom can leave a lot to be desired sometimes.
DeleteI love chickens...I think they are so photogenic!
ReplyDeleteNice to see all of your chicken photographs.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
There were some at a picnic spot when we drove from Awanui to Kerikeri. Not sure if they are still there.
ReplyDeleteWere these the ones in Te Atatu that you are talking about. Yes as per Susan's comment above we have some here in Kerikeri that wander around.
ReplyDeleteThese ones were in the King Country, south of Hamilton.
DeleteChicken. A sad story over here with their meat being so cheap, only few are allowed to roam "free".
ReplyDeleteNice to see yours!
I saw a group of what looked to be 'wild' chickens yesterday between Te Kuiti and Tokoroa yesterday, on the back roads. Can't recall exactly where now, as I think I was driving at the time.
ReplyDeleteStay safe
Blessings
Maxine
Yay! I'm happy to hear there are still some around the place. I think they are lovely :)
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI just love the cute chickens, they are all cute photos. Thank you for linking up your post. Enjoy your day, have a great new week! PS, thanks for the visit and comment.
I remember seeing chickens at the side of the road when I visited New Zealand. I was amazed that they survived, but I was told it was because there are no predators. I suppose the only predators are the human kind.
ReplyDeleteNow I recall chooks living in the bush beside a remote road on Otago Peninsula - we simply assumed they had 'escaped' from somewhere.
ReplyDeleteThere were some at a lay-by outside Whangerei too. They were well fed by people who stopped.
ReplyDelete