Feral Chicken Colony Plagues Santa Cruz Neighborhood, Prompting Calls for Municipal Action

Life in the Valleseco neighborhood of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has been disrupted by a growing colony of feral chickens. As reported by El Día, the birds have become a major source of frustration for residents in the El Silencio area, raising concerns about public health and damage to property.

The flock, which includes about fifty birds, has become difficult to manage because they have no legal owner. Residents report that the chickens are causing physical damage, such as scratching at vehicles and displacing stones on the street. Additionally, the constant crowing of the roosters—which lasts from dawn until the afternoon—is severely affecting the residents' ability to rest.

Beyond these daily annoyances, the situation highlights a common problem in urban areas: the lack of veterinary or administrative control over animal colonies. Neighbors have warned that people feeding the birds with organic waste are attracting rodents, which increases the risk of a public health crisis.

This situation presents a difficult challenge for local authorities, who must balance animal welfare laws with their duty to maintain public health and control pests. Because the birds have no owner, they exist in a legal gray area, making it hard for officials to relocate them without violating strict animal welfare regulations. Residents are now calling for urgent municipal intervention to restore order and improve living conditions in this part of the city.