Chickens "lucky to be saved" after being dumped in Keighley layby
An RSPCA inspector spotted the animals while on the way to another call out
The RSPCA are appealing for information after five chickens were dumped in a Keighley layby.
They animals were lucky to be saved as they were spotted by an RSPCA rescuer in the A650 Airevalley Road on Tuesday morning.
An inspector was on her way to another rescue when she saw the birds, a mix of three cockerels and two hens, had been left in an ‘emergency stopping only’ lay-by between Crossflatts roundabout heading towards Bingley.
Inspector Taylor said: “In my job I’m always ready for the unexpected but it was still a bit of a surprise to see these chickens roaming loose in the lay-by. I pulled over straight away and managed to catch four of the birds and take them to a local vet, but sadly, it was quite obvious straight away that they were very unwell. They were lethargic and looked dull and depressed.”
In the meantime, Inspector Taylor is appealing for any information about who may have abandoned the birds.
She added: “I am urging anyone with information or who may have seen anything on the morning of Tuesday 16th February to please contact me on our inspector’s appeal line number by calling 0300 1234 8018, quoting 00510836 as a reference.
“This was such a remote and unusual location for chickens to have strayed on their own, I have little doubt that they were deliberately dumped by their owner. Sadly it’s not uncommon for us to be called to rescue abandoned cockerels.”
Last year (2020) the RSPCA dealt with 1,594 incidents related to chickens across England and Wales, including 62 in West Yorkshire - more than any other county. The charity also took in 280 chickens into its centres for rehoming.
Concerns were raised during lockdown last year about the increase in pet acquisition and ownership, and the RSPCA feared that people would soon lose interest and start to hand their animals over once life started to return to normal.
The RSPCA fears that this problem could worsen as cases of bird flu are confirmed across the country, in both wild birds and captive birds. This means that bird keepers currently need to keep their birds contained indoors and the charity recommends the owners of all captive birds follow the Government’s biosecurity advice.
Throughout the winter months, the RSPCA expects to rescue thousands of animals from neglect, cruelty and suffering. Already this winter, we have received more than 82,000 calls but the calls to our rescue line are not stopping so neither will we. To help our rescue teams continue to reach the animals who desperately need us, visit www.rspca.org.uk/xmas and Join the Winter Rescue #JoinTheRescue