The Avegalio Farm in Pavaiai has been working on a poultry farm for the past three years and ordered special roosters from Hawaii—Astrolorp—for their free-range chicken farm. They were imported in as day-old chickens.
Over the weekend, two of the five Astrolorp roosters were stolen. Ipu Lefiti suspects that the roosters were stolen late Saturday early Sunday morning. She said this is the extent to which the crime rate has grown on the island: “Thieves are even stealing roosters.” The missing roosters are easily identifiable. They weigh between 10-14 pounds—much larger than the local chickens—and have pure white feathers. Lefiti said the idea of starting a chicken farm came about during the COVID lockdown. Since then, they’ve gradually built up the project, having success with egg-laying hens and sharing the eggs with family and friends—until they eventually begin commercial production. She said they need the roosters for their free-range chicken farm and are asking the public for help in finding them. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 911.
UPDATE: Around 10 a.m. on Tuesday, one of the missing Astrolorp roosters was returned and left outside the fence of the chicken coop at the Avegalio Farm. Mrs. Ipu Lefiti told JKHJ News that the retuned rooster was not injured, just ruffled. She was thankful it was returned and said, hopefully and prayerfully, the second rooster will find its way home as well. “Whoever stole the roosters, the greatest satisfaction is returning stolen goods,” she said.
She thanked DPS, and all friends and supporters who shared her Facebook post of the stolen roosters.
