[Abacus]

Anyone catch that story in the Daily Mail yesterday about the 'wild chicken herd'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1371852/Police-evict-50-chickens-near-Banks-Southport.html

[8doubles]

Some good looking fowl there, i know of a colony of feral bantams a few years ago that had to be reduced by forty five so they did not get completely out of hand.

[jinty1911]

Errrr It's the 1st of April     

[8doubles]

I think the article was before the 1st , like this one in a more unbelievable situation.

http://www.chickenroundabout.co.uk/

[Lindeggs]

We have wild chicken 'herds' all over the place around here.    Irresponsible people abandon them (especially when they start crowing!) and due to a relative lack of predators they establish themselves on roadsides, at picnic spots, or wherever there is a source of food.

Unfortunately it's not a good life for a wild chicken and they are often in very poor condition.  Especially with the huge imbalance between roosters and hens, you can imagine some of the injuries.    Local councils run regular culls - which results in all sorts of protests from people who like to see wild chickens.

It does amaze me though after reading so much about foxes on here - and the extraordinary lengths UK chicken-keepers go to in order to protect their flocks - to think that there are wild chickens running around!

[Dominic]

Apparently some of the hawaii'an islands have the same problem.