Fowl deed as thieves grab hen and chicks

1:15pm Friday 22nd August 2008

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AN unusual breed of chicks and their mother hen have been stolen from gardens in Bradford on Avon.

A black Dutch Crested bantam hen and three of her eight chicks were taken from a garden in Woolley Green, Bradford last week.

Concerned owner Susanne Dark is appealing for their safe return after she had borrowed the unique looking hen from Woolley Park Farm for her eggs.

Mrs Dark, 65, said: "I put them all to bed at night on Tuesday but on Wednesday I thought where is she?' "Someone has taken the mother hen and three of her ten-week-old chicks."

The bantam hen and her chicks are a rare breed that typically are black with what looks like a white wig on, however this particular hen had a black wig'.

Mrs Dark said: "I could tell someone had been out there - the sacking was all ripped down."

Mrs Dark dismisses the idea that a fox could have taken them because there were no usual signs such as scattered feathers and carcasses.

"The chicks are self-sufficient but I would still like them back of course," she said.

"The farmer was good about it when I told him. He said, don't worry about it' but it's not very nice though.

"I want them back; I don't like the idea of people coming in and helping themselves."

This is not the first time that Mrs Dark and her family have had hens stolen. In 2004 the family had black frizzle bantams taken.

They were later found by a passer-by in the park but by the time Mrs Dark got there the hens had gone again.

There have been numerous reports in recent months of stolen hens and chicks.

Sergeant Sean Brady, of Bradford police said they had become a popular target as their value increases.

He said: "We obviously take these crimes seriously. I think certainly with the rarer breeds they are worth a bit more now. They can also be untraceable unless they are micro-chipped.