Increasing numbers of chickens being dumped

ARISING number of chickens are being abandoned due to bird flu and the cost of living crisis, an animal charity is warning.

Nearly 2,000 straying cockerels and hens have been reported to the RSPCA already this year, and there are fears that this figure could rise as the country grapples with its worst ever outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus.

This is 8% higher than for the entirety of 2020 (1,704), with 1,841 cases of dumped poultry reported to the RSPCA’s cruelty line in 2022 so far.

In the South West, there have been 100 reports across the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire since 2020 – with the highest numbers in Devon at 23.

In 2022, the UK has experienced its largest outbreak of bird flu, and experts have warned that infections could rise even higher over the winter of 2022–23. The outbreak has led to the death of 97 million birds globally – 3.8 million of those in the UK.

In response, the UK Government has imposed mandatory housing orders, which meant commercial and pet hens were on ‘flockdown’ for the first five months of the year. Another housing order came into effect for England last month, and will come into force for Wales on Friday, December 2.

Kate Norman, poultry expert at the RSPCA, said: “Keeping hens has become increasingly popular in recent years but it’s incredibly sad to see so many of them being abandoned and neglected. We are concerned that we could see an increase in the number of dumped chickens due to the cost of living crisis and concerns over bird flu.

“We are now sadly once again in the midst of a bird flu outbreak which has seen the UK Government take the necessary steps to issue a housing order for all keepers of birds in England. Not only is this stressful for the hens, as birds that have previously roamed around a garden or smallholding are now being kept inside, but it’s also understandably stressful for owners.

“We would urge anyone who is struggling to care for their pets to please reach out for help from friends or family, or charities. Please never abandon any animal.”

Ms Norman added that poultry owners are advised to 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,” she concluded.

We are concerned that we could see an increase in the number of dumped chickens KATE NORMAN, RSPCA

RSPCA > Around 15 hens were abandoned in a field in Hempstead in Norfolk in October