You can kill feral chickens in Hawaii, but the law here is unsettled and the safer answer is a qualified yes. No state statute currently gives residents explicit permission to kill wild chickens the way Hawaii law expressly allows killing mongoose. The animal cruelty statute, HRS 711-1109, applies to all animals and could be used to charge someone who kills a chicken “without need” or by inhumane means. A bill that would clearly authorize killing feral chickens on private property with the landowner’s consent, HB980, passed the Hawaii House in March 2025 but is still pending in the Senate as of early 2026.1LegiScan. HI HB980 2026 Regular Session Until it becomes law, you are operating in a gray zone, and how you go about it matters much more than whether you do it.
Why Feral Chickens Have No Special Protections
Feral chickens are not native to Hawaii. They descended from domestic poultry and Red Junglefowl brought to the islands, and their populations expanded after hurricanes destroyed coops and released birds into the wild. Because they are not indigenous wildlife, they receive none of the protections that apply to native Hawaiian birds. They also do not appear on the federal list of species protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, so no federal permit is required to manage them.2eCFR. 50 CFR 10.13 – List of Birds Protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Lacking special protection is not the same as being fair game. That distinction is where most people get into trouble.
The Animal Cruelty Statute Is the Real Limit
Under HRS 711-1109, it is an offense to kill “without need” any animal other than insects, vermin, or other pests, and the killing must follow standard pest control practices and all applicable laws. The statute also prohibits torturing, tormenting, beating, starving, or poisoning any animal.3Justia. Hawaii Revised Statutes 711-1109 – Cruelty to Animals in the Second Degree
Whether a feral chicken counts as a “pest” under that statute has never been cleanly answered. That ambiguity is the reason the legislature has been working on clarifying bills. Practically speaking, a chicken damaging your yard or roosting on your property is more likely to be treated as a pest than one you shot in a public park for sport. But you cannot assume a court or a prosecutor will see it your way, especially if the method looked cruel.
Poisoning is spelled out in the statute, so scattering rat bait or any other toxicant is off the table. Federally registered avicides like DRC-1339 exist, but they are restricted-use pesticides available only to USDA-certified applicators.4U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The Use of DRC-1339 in Wildlife Damage Management Glue traps, stoning, or wounding a bird without a quick kill would likely qualify as torment or torture. Kill quickly and cleanly, or hire someone who can.
What HB980 Would Change
House Bill 980 would amend HRS 142-93.5, the mongoose-killing statute that currently allows anyone to kill mongoose “in any manner not prohibited by law, including by trapping.”5Justia. Hawaii Revised Statutes 142-93.5 – Mongoose Killing Allowed The bill extends that same permission to feral chickens on private property, provided the landowner consents.1LegiScan. HI HB980 2026 Regular Session
Two things to notice. First, the authorization is limited to private property, so public land is not covered. Second, the phrase “in any manner not prohibited by law” means the animal cruelty statute still applies as a backstop even after HB980 passes. The bill removes the “without need” question for chickens, but it does not license cruel methods.
HB980 cleared the House in March 2025 and was referred to the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee, where it was deferred and carried over to the 2026 regular session.1LegiScan. HI HB980 2026 Regular Session Until it passes the Senate and is signed by the governor, it is not law.
What You Can Actually Do Right Now
On Oahu, the safest legal route is the city’s own program. The City and County of Honolulu has contracted with a private pest control company to cage and dispose of feral chickens on private property, with the city funding a portion of the cost. Residents request the service through the Department of Customer Services. Using a licensed contractor takes the cruelty question off your plate. Oahu residents can also call the Honolulu Police Department’s non-emergency line about noise nuisance or illegal poultry keeping (more than two birds per household).6City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services. Feral Chickens
On the neighbor islands, the picture is thinner. Kauai has the largest feral chicken population in the state and few organized resources. Maui and Hawaii County residents have reported difficulty finding any agency willing to take responsibility. One Big Island resident who called animal control, the HOA, and the attorney general reportedly got the same answer at each stop: there is no law for that. If you live outside Oahu, contact your county animal control office for current options before acting on your own.
If you are handling it yourself on your own property, live-trapping followed by a humane dispatch is the most defensible approach. It keeps you inside the cruelty statute’s “standard pest control practices” language and avoids the methods most likely to draw a complaint.
Firearms and Public Land Are Off the Table
Shooting a feral chicken in a residential area is almost certainly illegal. Hawaii strictly regulates firearm discharge, and local ordinances in populated areas prohibit it. Air rifles and pellet guns may face similar restrictions depending on the county, and noise ordinances can apply as well.
Public property is also outside what any individual can do. State parks, county facilities, school grounds, and conservation lands are managed by the agency responsible for each site: the Department of Land and Natural Resources for state parks, the Department of Education for school campuses, and county agencies for local facilities.6City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services. Feral Chickens If chickens are causing problems on public land, report the issue rather than trying to handle it yourself. HB980, if it passes, would not change this; it applies only to private property.
Penalties If You Get It Wrong
The likely charge for killing a feral chicken in a way that violates Hawaii law is cruelty to animals in the second degree under HRS 711-1109. It is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail.7Justia. Hawaii Revised Statutes 706-663 – Sentence of Imprisonment for Misdemeanor and Petty Misdemeanor The statute has a class C felony enhancement for offenses involving ten or more pet animals in a single incident, with fines up to $10,000, but feral chickens are unlikely to be classified as pet animals, so the felony version rarely applies in this context.8Justia. Hawaii Revised Statutes 706-640 – Authorized Fines
A misdemeanor conviction is still serious. It goes on your record, can affect employment, and is a steep price for handling a nuisance bird the wrong way when a licensed contractor or a live trap would have solved the same problem cleanly.