Borne out of backlash from the chicken cullings of 2017, a task force has been created for chicken population control in Sin Ming that does not involve sourcing raw ingredients for chicken rice.
Sin Ming’s overpopulation of chickens has led to discomfort and noise complaints from the residents, with the chickens clucking at the wee hours of the morning.
As much as it seems like a simple issue, this has been a long-standing problem because all solutions have been met with the strong desire of the residents to fight for the lives and the rights of the chickens to remain in their home.
The Peck-culiar Controversy of the Sin Ming Chickens
In 2017, 24 free-roaming chickens were put out of egg-istence after overpopulation complaints. This led to, however, a huge hullabaloo over the then Agri-food and Veterinary Authority’s decision to kill the birds.
Hence, in 2019, when the overpopulation problem re-occurred, the solution undertaken was much less drastic—relocating the chickens to a farm in Seletar, where they would be raised as pets.
Even then, however, the residents were unhappy about the change—over 90% of them in a poll involving over 1,000 residents voted for leaving the chickens alone.
The Huge Egg Hunt
Now that the chicken population is rising again, a task force was formed to curb the problem through measures that did not involve the removal of the chickens.
Yes, I kid you not: it’s literally the chicken task force, and it has nothing to do with our national dish.
Representatives from NParks, Thomson Sin Ming Residents’ Committee, the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society and Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council are included in the task force.
The task force carried out solutions like searching for eggs, spreading awareness about not feeding the chickens, and implementing rewards for finding eggs.
Almost like an Easter egg hunt.
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Decisions and the Aftermath
Despite the efforts of the task force, the director announced on 24 March that they will have to relocate up to 10 of the chickens. This decision was met with mixed reactions—some residents were outraged while others were supportive.
“Some of us felt cheated,” said a resident involved in the task force, because they felt like their egg-hunting efforts had not come to fruition.
Residents interviewed by The Straits Times added that they enjoyed the vibes that the chickens brought because it reminded them of their old kampong days. Clearly, they are very attached to the birds.
Previously, Jun Chong, a filmmaker who made a film about the chicken incident in 2017, noted that the residents are extremely protective over the chickens, and will confront people who seem like they are going to catch them.
Despite the overall dissatisfaction at the decision made, some residents noted that the overpopulation problem had to be solved, and that it was a necessary move.
The Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP Mr Chong said he would consider setting up more task forces for similar issues in the future.
He commented, “It will not make everybody happy but it gives the people who feel strongly about the issue a chance to speak up.”
All this fuss really makes you think before your next McChicken burger.
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