Dehydrated cockerels with damaged wings abandoned by roadside in town

FOUR cockerels escaped serious injury after being found by the side of a busy road near Warrington

The young male birds were picked up by members of the public on Higher Lane, just off the A56 between Lymm and Broomedge, during separate incidents earlier this month.

Some of the feathers on their wings had been damaged – probably when an attempt was made to clip them and reduce their ability to fly – and they were all dehydrated.

The cockerels received veterinary care and are now being boarded at a private facility on behalf of the RSPCA and will be rehomed if no-one comes forward to claim them.

The RSPCA believes the birds were deliberately abandoned, and the charity has issued an appeal for anyone with any information to come forward.

RSPCA animal rescue officer Fay Bowers said: “Attempts had been made to hack off the birds’ wing feathers and they were all dehydrated.

“Thankfully, kind members of the public stepped in, and they did not come to any further harm, which was fortunate given the proximity to the main road.”

The RSPCA sad that sadly, reports about dumped poultry are not uncommon.

Over the last four years, the animal welfare charity has received more than 1,100 reports about chickens being abandoned in public places.

The cockrels were rescued by the roadside

People not wanting males who are unable to lay eggs is thought to be one of the main reasons.

“It is not uncommon for cockerels to be abandoned, and we think this is what has happened here,” Fay added.

“Sometimes people may have taken on unsexed chicks, which have grown into noisy cockerels who obviously cannot provide eggs, and so they are then dumped.

“Finding the appropriate facilities to take them can also be challenging.

“We should all want to see a world where animals are treated with kindness and respect.

“Chickens can be very rewarding pets, but like with any animal, they have specific behavioural and environmental requirements.

“It is important that people have the appropriate time, knowledge and resources in place to be able to offer them a life-long home.”

Anyone who might have seen the cockerels being abandoned, or has information about where they have come from, is urged to call the RSPCA’s appeals line on 0300 123 8018, quoting reference number 01249776.