MYSTERY surrounds the release into the wild of dozens of battery hens on North Hill, Minehead.

About 60 abandoned chickens were spotted on Saturday at the roadside in an area known as ‘The Triangle’.

A number of local residents then rushed to the area and rounded up as many of the birds as they could, helped by staff from Exmoor National Park Authority.

The RSPCA was contacted but reportedly said the incident did not fall within the charity’s responsibilities.

Some of the abandoned chickens ready to be taken away by Minehead resident Donna Richards. PHOTO: Donna Richards.
Some of the abandoned chickens ready to be taken away by Minehead resident Donna Richards. PHOTO: Donna Richards. ( )

Minehead woman Donna Richards said: “I drove up to see if I could help in any way to try and take the hens to safety.

“A few concerned members of the public had gathered, one managed to contact the RSPCA but were informed that this is not within the responsibilities of the RSPCA.

“So, the group decided to catch as many chickens as possible and put out a plea on social media for people to offer homes to the hens.

“Battling the gorse bushes and some very scared chickens, it was a real challenge to catch them.

“I managed to rescue 22 and take them to my aviary to temporarily keep them safe with food and water.

“I will look for permanent homes for them over the next few weeks.

“The hens were very thirsty and had obviously not had access to water for some time.

Some of the hens abandoned on Minehead's North Hill are now being looked after by Donna Richards. HOTO: Donna Richards.
Some of the hens abandoned on Minehead's North Hill are now being looked after by Donna Richards. HOTO: Donna Richards. ( )

“Sadly, I had to leave huge numbers of the hens on the hill to fend for themselves as I have limited space and already had 10 of my own hens.

“We can only assume they will not survive for long fending for themselves.

“This is incredibly sad, and whoever dumped them is unbelievably irresponsible.”

Ms Richards said one possibility was that the chickens had been dumped because of fears over the national bird flu, or avian influenza, outbreak ‘which makes the whole thing even more careless’.

She said: “So far, the hens are not showing any sign of illness, they are eating well and have been started on a seven day worming treatment.”

Along with most of the rest of the country, West Somerset is subject to a Government-imposed avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ).

It means all bird keepers, whether they have pet birds, commercial flocks, or just a few birds in a backyard flock, have to take biosecurity and hygiene measures to protect them from avian influenza.

They are required to keep ducks and geese separate from other birds, prevent contact with wild birds and rodents, keep housing, equipment, vehicles, and footwear clean, and record all bird movements, deaths, and eggs.

There are additional rules for people who keep more than 500 birds.

‘The triangle’ area of North Hill takes its name from the remains of a World War Two tank training range which has a triangular circuit for associated target railways.