With some San Juan Bautista residents crowing over what they
call an unchecked increase in the amount of street chickens roaming
the Mission City, officials are considering paying a Paicines
critter wrangler $5 per bird to thin the flocks.
With some San Juan Bautista residents crowing over what they call an unchecked increase in the amount of street chickens roaming the Mission City, officials are considering paying a Paicines critter wrangler $5 per bird to thin the flocks.
The San Juan City Council was scheduled to address the issue at this week’s meeting, but decided to delay the discussion until the June 21 meeting.
While the debate over whether the feral hens and roosters should roam free has ruffled the feathers of some locals, others say the wandering birds are an attraction that benefits the city’s tourist-based economy.
“It’s not a matter of liking or not liking them – it’s a health issue and a nuisance,” said Richard Ponce, who has lived in San Juan for more than 70 years. “They’re all over our restaurants where we have outside seating. It’s a noise issue, too. They crow at all hours of the night and a lot of people have a heck of a time trying to sleep.”
Ponce said he spends a lot of time in the garden of his home on Fourth Street, where he says “a majority of the chickens hang out.”
“They don’t hang out on the main drag that much because there’s not a lot of habitat for them,” he said. “They hang out in neighborhoods where they can hide in bushes and dig around. A lot of us who take care of our yards have a hell of a time with them. They dig things up, scratch and pull up plants.”
He also said the birds can be a traffic hazard, with drivers slowing down when a chicken crosses the road.
City Clerk Linda McIntyre, who has lived on Sixth Street in San Juan for 11 years and works as the Moss Landing harbor master, said she doesn’t “understand what all the fuss is about.”
“I like the chickens,” she said. “I find them to be quite charming. If they are removed, I want to make sure it is done humanely. People don’t like the roosters crowing, but they don’t disturb my sleep at all. I’m sorry for the people who are disturbed by them, but I hope they can work out a solution where roosters and hens will be allowed to remain in the city.
“If they want to thin the herd, that’s fine. I was hoping they don’t do an all-out slaughter.”
San Juan Mayor Andy Moore said there are no plans to remove all of the chickens from the city. He does, however, believe the city needs to respond to residents’ complaints about the birds.
“It’s a love-hate relationship,” he said.
See the full story in the Pinnacle on Friday.
For a prior story on the San Juan chicken debate, go here.
