RSPCA worried over spike in dumped chickens
MANY WERE BOUGHT DUE TO EGG SHORTAGE
LOCKDOWN chicken-keepers have led to a worrying spike in dumped poultry, the RSPCA has warned.
The animal welfare charity is concerned at the number of hens and cockerels being abandoned and fears rescue centres will be overrun with birds soon.
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.
There have been 50 cases reported in Greater London.
On December 8, the RSPCA was called after 11 hens were found dumped down an alleyway in Ealing. Four had died but the other seven were rushed to Harmsworth Animal Hospital by rescuers Mike Beaman and Jade Guthrie, where they are now being cared for.
A charity spokesman 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 December 14 and the charity recommends the owners of all captive birds follow the government’s biosecurity advice.
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.”