INCREASING demand for free-range chickens is behind the theft of 50 birds from an allotment, it is feared.
The thieves loaded them into a van after smashing through a fence and a gate to get to a shed and steal the Rhode Island Reds.
It is believed two men spent 30 minutes loading the chickens, worth around £50 each, eight chicken feeders and two guinea-fowl into the van at King George's Allotment in Audenshaw.
The birds' owners, brothers Stephen and Jonnie O'Brien, believe they were stolen to order and fear they could die if they aren't fed properly.
It has been estimated 1,500 birds are stolen every year around the country to meet demand from householders to rear their own chickens. Sales of free-range chickens rocketed following TV chef Jamie Oliver's Fowl Dinners on Channel 4.
Joiner Stephen, 45, a married father-of-three from Ashton under Lyne, refers to the chickens, rust-coloured with yellow feet and reddish-brown beaks, as `my babies'. He appealed for help to bring his flock home.
He said: "I think somebody has pinched them to order. Someone must have been watching the allotment. Somebody must have realised they were worth a few bob. I think they must still be alive because otherwise they wouldn't have taken the feeders."
Stephen rears the chickens for eggs to sell but says it's a hobby rather than a business.
He said: "Everything gets blamed on the credit crunch but as far as I'm concerned this is just thieving. Me and my brother locked them away every night in the shed to stop the foxes getting them really. Some of the neighbours said they saw two men in a van and they thought they were allotment holders.
"At first I thought it was a wind-up. Who could have done something like this? You don't just take 50 birds and put them in the back garden.
"Somebody out there must know something. I love those birds and I want them back. I'll know if they're mine because if I say: `Come on my babies' they'll come straight to me."
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J. Peasmold Gruntfuttock, King of Peasmouldia (13/08/2009 at 08:54)
Angie33 , Manchester (13/08/2009 at 10:05)
Thomas The Tank, Rusholme (13/08/2009 at 14:44)
Zimmerman, manchester (13/08/2009 at 15:10)
Zimmerman, manchester (13/08/2009 at 15:19)
Some people love their animals so much they give them names and know every one of them by name i remember when my father had a pigfarm a local guy knew all his pigs by name and most of his chickens? some people love animals so why not treat them with some respect.
thoughtful, East of Manchester (13/08/2009 at 22:10)
Even Poulet de Bresse isn't that expensive!
New Transistor Hero, Fallowfield (14/08/2009 at 08:20)
Bill Stevenson (16/08/2009 at 02:36)
Let me remind you these are not simple used slippers or such, they are each one a little production machine with character and life. They will be capable of producing 500 to 1,200 eggs in each ones laying life. Free range eggs are premium goods here as I expect they are there also. I know as I do sell them in the farmers market here for what would be about 3£ per dozen by your currency. Using the lower of my projected yield that one hen will give 125£ of eggs, or more. Sure there are other costs but they will come from the 75£ difference between his estimate and gross production. Look too at the interruption this theft has caused to the supply whether for personal uses or for marketing. Compare this perhaps to say working border collies, quality well trained and vital to daily activity, would you regard that precious animal as being only worth what a living breathing border collie might be costing if adopted from a shelter? Surely not, I trust the value of 50£ the victim has assessed his birds to be worth. Not likely the thief will get more than the price you stated, sounds like you might know the stolen poultry market a tad too well. Chickens just don't get the respect they deserve. I love my flock.