RSPCA fears surge in dumped chickens across the south

The RSPCA fears chickens are being abandoned across the south after people bought chicks during lockdown and can no longer look after them.

The animal welfare charity is concerned rescue centres will soon be overrun with birds.

So far this year the RSPCA has dealt with 1,594 incidents related to chickens across England and Wales and has had abandonment incidents relating to 1,562 birds.

A stray cockerel was found in a garden in Poole on 2 December and on the same day, three fancy chickens were found dumped in a box in Eastleigh.

A cockerel was found abandoned in a layby near Christchurch in November.

The charity has taken 280 chickens into its centres for rehoming.

Number of chicken incidents dealt with by the RSPCA (1 January 2020-30 November 2020)

Dorset - 23

Hampshire - 19

Isle of Wight - 3

West sussex - 11

A charity spokesperson said: "Concerns were raised during lockdown about the increase in pet acquisition and ownership, and we feared that people would soon lose interest and start to hand their animals over once life started to return to normal.

"In the spring, many hen producers reported huge surges in demand for chicks and we believe this may be because people panic bought birds due to shortages of eggs in the supermarkets but, due to the shops being better stocked, are now ‘surplus to requirement’.

"There are also concerns that some families may have taken on unsexed chicks, which have grown into noisy cockerels so are now being abandoned."

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 need to keep their birds contained indoors from 14 December.

Kate Parkes, poultry welfare specialist at the RSPCA, said: "It’s really important that owners follow government biosecurity advice to help protect the health of their birds as well as to try and limit the spread of the virus.

"All pet poultry owners need to stay vigilant for signs of disease and ill health in their flocks and it’s vital they seek veterinary advice if they have any concerns for their birds.

"We’re concerned that worries about bird flu and changes to how we’re allowed to keep hens may lead to more owners abandoning their pets, putting more pressure on rescue centres."