While Woo claims that he has not received any complaints from neighbours about his chickens, he still moved his pets to a friend’s house for fear that they might be seized. They are not suitable to be kept as indoor pets and, when allowed to roam indiscriminately, may inconvenience the neighbours”. In an earlier article by TODAYonline, HDB stated its stance: “Poultry, including chickens, are not allowed to be kept in HDB flats. Having acted on a tip-off, the officers warned him that keeping chickens in HDB flats was not allowed. Woo’s hobby took a left turn in May when he received a surprise visit from HDB officers. (PHOTO: Dhany Osman / Yahoo News Singapore) Ruffled feathers Chickens kept in flats or apartments are far less likely to be exposed to such wild birds than those kept in open spaces such as gardens.Įric Woo with his Silkie named Splash. While some might be concerned over the prospect of contracting or spreading avian flu, the risk comes from domesticated chickens possibly contracting the virus by coming into contact with infected migratory birds. They will actually seek human interaction,” said Woo.īesides the Silkie and mini Cochin, breeds such as the Polish – known for their extravagant headdresses – and Serama – recognisable by their proud, upright posture – are also suitable for owners living in flats or apartments as they are low maintenance and “not too noisy”. “Certain breeds like the Silkie are human curious. Besides keeping their birds clean and well-fed, owners should also take the time to bond with them, he added. Other than that, they are “no different from keeping any other pet”, said Woo. He noted that providing chickens with adequately sized cages is also important. ![]() In terms of maintenance, Woo spends about $30 a month on his four birds. “We’re getting a lot of interest from people who are not traditional poultry-keepers.” He noted that many people are not even aware that it is possible to raise pet chickens here, adding that FMF is also looking to change this mindset and show that poultry keeping is not “just a kampung thing”. Thus far it has organised three gatherings, during which owners show off their birds and share tips on caring for the animals.Ĭommenting on the diversity of the local chicken-rearing community, he said,“We have very young members in their late teens and early 20s, and even people in their 50s and 60s.” His own group, formed in June last year, aims to educate the public on responsible poultry keeping. Woo currently owns eight birds, four of which are of the “Silkie” breed – known for their soft, fluffy plumage – while the others are “mini Cochins”, which he describes as “balls of feathers”.Ī handful of hobbyist groups that share Woo’s passion exist here, and he estimates that there are about a thousand pet chicken keepers across the island. They interact with people, and they look lovely,” said the married father of two who lives in a five-room HDB flat. “I began to realise that keeping chickens is actually a very nice hobby. However, the bird lover soon took to continuing the practice for his own enjoyment. Woo began raising the animals as a way to teach his students about life cycles. Instead, the 48-year-old private science tutor enjoys keeping ornamental chickens as pets, and has been spreading awareness of the hobby through his Facebook group Fowl Mouthed Family (FMF). SINGAPORE - Eric Woo has been raising chickens for about a decade, but he’s no farmer.
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