Chickens may not be an uncommon sight in heartland areas now, but a fluffy Silkie chicken is.
One TikTok user spotted the unusual avian on Mar. 15 at Tampines, roaming around the neighbourhood park.
Speaking to Mothership, Wei Ling only caught sight of the chicken after noticing a small group of people observing and filming it.
While she has seen regular chickens in the area before, this is her first time spotting a Silkie chicken.
In the TikTok video, which has since garnered over 900,000 views and 149,000 likes, the grey Silkie chicken was seen waddling around before heading over to a lift lobby.
@somersault has anyone seen this type of chicken around before??? 😂 #fyp #fypsg #sgtiktok ♬ Funny - Gold-Tiger
Keeping poultry in HDB flats not allowed
Silkies are a breed of chicken that sport unusually fluffy plumage, which is said to feel like silk and satin.
They are known to be particularly friendly and docile, and make good pets.
Owning poultry, including Silkie chickens, is allowed in Singapore for those who live on private property.
Keeping poultry in HDB flats is not allowed due to public health reasons.
As such, Wei Ling speculated that the Silkie she saw could have been an escaped or abandoned pet.
Since then, she has not seen the Silkie again.
What to do if you find a Silkie
The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) does not handle Silkie chickens are they are not considered wildlife.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) also does not have the facilities or expertise to care for birds.
Therefore, members of the public who find what might be a lost or abandoned Silkie chicken can alert the National Parks' Board's Animal & Veterinary Service via the agency's hotline at 1800-476-1600.
While SPCA might not be able to take in the Silkie, members of public can still make a lost and found report with SPCA using this form.
Should the SPCA come across matching reports or reported sightings of the Silkie, they can help to contact the owner or finder.
Top photo from somersault / TikTok