Cynthia Busuttil
Cocks and hens ruffle resident's feathers
Mayor says they are friends not foes
When Martin Vella is rudely awoken every morning, he groans and tries to cover his head with his pillow in a bid to go back to sleep.
But the crowing of the cocks that can be clearly heard from his bedroom makes this nigh impossible, even though it will be hours before his alarm clock goes off.
"They start crowing at the crack of dawn and go on until late in the morning, sometimes starting again in the afternoon. It's a racket out here," he said.
The birds have set up home on an abandoned stretch of land on Capuchins Street in Kalkara. Although hidden under shrubs and trees, the cocks and hens can be clearly heard, their crowing and cackling piercing the atmosphere in the otherwise quiet street.
He said it all started around a year ago, with a couple of hens and cocks which have not gone forth much, but multiplied a lot.
Mr Vella said residents had long complained about the poultry, which are leaving their feathers all over the pavements and causing a rancid stench in the summertime. He believes they are a health risk.
But Kalkara mayor Michael Cohen, who lives across the road from the field, said most residents have taken to the poultry and are treating them as pets.
"They are fascinated by them and leave food and water. It is not an everyday sight," Mr Cohen said, adding that only one person complained about these feathered friends.
"I do not think that the hens and cocks are posing any danger," Mr Cohen said when contacted, and therefore he has no intention of taking steps to remove them.
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C Gauci
Dec 2nd 2008, 07:26
First & foremost, these cocks and hens have found refuge in the bushes and RARELY roam the street! Secondly, I have never seen their feathers over the payment! Thirdly, I don't think the mayor should opt to kill them! What on earth?! Please Mr. A Mifsud let's grow up! I invite you to spend 1 day in the life of a mayor trying to take important decisons every day for the benefit of the residents, hearing complaints and constant requests, trying to help ppl and giving Kalkara residents a voice in front of the govt. As to Mr. Vella, is he serious when he means we should get rid of a cock because he crows and doesn't let him sleep?! One word to Mr. Cohen, well done and thank you for your hard work and everything you do for us Kalkara residents.
Alex Ellul
Dec 1st 2008, 13:21
@Antoine Grima: Shall I bring you all those hunters who wake me up at the crack of dawn blasting birds out of the skies without any respect at all to Homo Sapiens? I would prefer a couple of roosters than a multitude of shotguns blasting away on automatic without respite.
Dr. John Zammit
Nov 30th 2008, 17:21
In Kalkara everthing is happening, not only cocks and hens, if anybody visits Rinella housing estate, Kalkara, along with the cats and dogs one finds hundreds of pots all over the estate and a certain person is so crazy about his pots (I don't know if he is going to change his name to Mr. Pots) that he filled every wher even the passages and one nearly cannot pass to go to his house as every where you look is full of pots, and this is when the Rinella housing estate is all filled with big patches of soil with plants and trees. The Mayor of Kalkara appealed to all to put pots where ever there is non, but this person who thinks that he is god said that he has a permit from the Mayor to put the pots. The Mayor when asked said that "no this person has no permits from him".
a mifsud
Nov 30th 2008, 14:42
Unbelievable. Is the mayor serious, that he will do anything about this? He will allow hens and cocks to roam the streets? That they are there is hard to comprehend but the fact that the mayor is so flippant about it really is shocking. What are the requirements to become a mayor?
Antoine Grima
Nov 30th 2008, 12:03
I tell you what Mr Lawton , if they were keeping me awake , they would not be there for long , i'd bring them to you to keep and enjoy the miracle
Norman Stivala
Nov 30th 2008, 11:59
I agree with Mr. Cohen, it brings a little bit of countryside to an otherwise total city atmosphere which reigns practically everywhere people make their home. It is far better than the sounds (noises) people make. After all a crowing cock and a cachling chicken is in reality bird song.
Norman
Eric Soames
Nov 30th 2008, 11:46
Christmas is coming. I bet there's a soup kitchen somewhere that could use them.
Jo.Galea
Nov 30th 2008, 11:16
First we wanted dogs and cats to roam our streets, now we want hens and cocks. What's next? Soon we will have some more good animal lovers who will want cows and sheep to roam our streets. If we continue our trend to be like this, we are going to find ourselves like an Etiopian country, forgetting our own human rights and treat animals to be like our allmighty gods.
Peter Lawton
Nov 30th 2008, 10:46
The cocks and hens have been living wild for a year! and not been shot at. Allelujha, miracles still happen.
Franco Farrugia
Nov 30th 2008, 10:35
Well done, Mayor Cohen - you have your heart where it should be. Phooey to all those who have no time for animals!!!