From residential estates to parks, nature reserves and even roadside greenery, seeing a chicken wandering around Singapore is no longer particularly unusual.
Free-ranging chickens have become a familiar sight in various parts of the island, with residents regularly sharing photographs and videos of roosters, hens and chicks roaming around housing estates. The National Parks Board (NParks) has also acknowledged that the population of free-ranging chickens has increased significantly over the years.
But exactly how many wild chickens are living in Singapore today?
The short answer is that there does not appear to be a reliable nationwide headcount. This is partly because Singapore’s free-ranging chicken population includes birds that can look like domestic chickens, Red Junglefowl and hybrids between the two.
Chicken Complaints Have Become Increasingly Common
The scale of the issue can nevertheless be seen from the number of complaints and feedback received by authorities.
In January 2026, the Ministry of National Development said NParks received an average of about 2,000 instances of feedback related to free-ranging chickens in residential estates each year over the preceding five years. The feedback includes issues such as chickens congregating near homes and early-morning noise.
That does not mean Singapore has 2,000 chickens — each bird or flock can generate multiple reports. However, the figure indicates that free-ranging chickens are now widespread enough to regularly interact with residents across the island.
The trend is not entirely new. NParks told CNA in 2022 that it had received more than 1,000 reports annually about free-ranging chickens since 2020. Reports came from areas including Marine Parade, Pasir Ris and Ang Mo Kio.
Singapore’s Wild Chicken Population Has Increased
There is also actual survey evidence showing that chicken numbers have risen.
NParks’ information on the Red Junglefowl states that the birds were formerly restricted mainly to wooded areas on Pulau Ubin and western Singapore. Today, large roaming flocks comprising a mixture of domestic fowl and wild-type birds are a common sight in many parts of Singapore.
A bird survey conducted between 2015 and 2019 recorded a substantial increase in observed chickens. The number of individuals recorded during the November survey rose from 21 in 2015 to 225 in 2019, while the April count increased from 17 to 174 over the same period.
These figures should not be interpreted as Singapore’s total chicken population. They represent individuals observed during survey rounds and demonstrate the population trend rather than providing a nationwide census.
So, How Many Wild Chickens Are In Singapore?
Based on the available information, a precise figure cannot responsibly be given.
A reasonable rough estimate would be in the hundreds to low thousands of free-ranging chickens islandwide, but this should be treated as an estimate rather than an official population count. The available NParks data confirms significant growth and a much wider distribution, but does not provide a current nationwide headcount.
For comparison, NParks estimated that around 50 free-ranging chickens were living at Pasir Ris Park alone in 2022. A previous media report had put the number at about 200, but NParks clarified that its own estimate was closer to 50.
There are also established groups in residential areas. For example, a census in one Singapore estate recorded about 99 chickens in December 2021 and around 66 in May 2022, before some birds were relocated.
Not Every “Wild Chicken” Is Truly Wild
One reason counting Singapore’s chickens is particularly complicated is that not every free-ranging bird is a pure Red Junglefowl.
The Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) is Singapore’s native wild ancestor of the domestic chicken. NParks classifies it as nationally Endangered, while noting that hybridisation between wild junglefowl and domestic chickens is common.
Red Junglefowl have also expanded beyond their traditional habitats. According to NParks, they were once largely confined to Pulau Ubin and western Singapore but can now be encountered in many parts of the mainland.
This means the rooster crowing outside an HDB block could potentially be a Red Junglefowl, a domestic chicken that has gone free-ranging, or a hybrid carrying characteristics of both.
Why Are There So Many Chickens Now?
Singapore’s urban environment provides surprisingly suitable conditions for these birds.
Experts previously told CNA that Red Junglefowl have gradually colonised more habitats across the island. They face relatively few natural predators in urban Singapore, while green spaces, parks and undeveloped areas provide places to forage and roost.
Human feeding can also contribute to larger congregations. NParks has repeatedly urged residents not to feed free-ranging chickens, as readily available food can encourage population growth and attract other pests.
In 2026, NParks said its approach includes working with Town Councils and grassroots organisations on population control, modifying habitats to discourage chickens from roosting close to residential units and educating the public not to release or feed free-ranging chickens. The authorities said they currently have no plans to relocate the birds to other areas.
So while there may not be a definitive answer to the question of whether Singapore has 500, 1,000 or several thousand wild chickens, one thing is clear: the feathered population has expanded significantly, and sightings are now a normal part of life in many parts of Singapore.
For now, the best description is not a precise number, but a growing islandwide population that is increasingly sharing Singapore’s urban landscape with its human residents.