Principal source:
Compiler: IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) with support from the Overseas Territories Environmental Programme (OTEP) project XOT603, a joint project with the Cayman Islands Government - Department of Environment
Review:
Publication date: 2010-06-09
Recommended citation: Global Invasive Species Database (2024) Species profile: Gallus gallus. Downloaded from http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=1661 on 07-10-2024.
In populations of Gallus spp. bred for food, there are risks of carrying disease causing pathogens such as Toxoplasma gondii and Salmonella spp. (Dubey, 2009). Although not confirmed, there were also fears that Gallus spp. could be a vector for the H5N1 avian bird flu (Daily Gazette, 2006).
Having a highly generalist diet, Gallus spp. could negatively impact native invertebrates and verbrates as well as native plants (Varnham, 2006). Feral Gallus spp. are also known to be a pest on farms, damaging crops and potentially spreading disease to domesticated Gallus spp. populations (Varnham, 1996; Daily Gazette, 1998.).
In high numbers, Gallus spp. can become a human nuisance due to the noise made by males.
They are potential risks to aircraft near airports (Daily Gazette, 1998).
Chemical control: On Lord Howe Island, Gallus spp. were one of the species identified to be put at risk from use of brodifacoum for rodent eradication (Lord Howe Island Board, 2009). However, no information could be found regarding chemical control programs for Gallus spp.. On Bermuda, chemical control was not considered due to the risk of non-target effects on other avian fauna and farmer's crops (Daily Gazette, 2006).