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A reward is being offered for information regarding the theft of more than a hundred rare chickens from a farm near Steep Marsh.
Rustlers raided the farm on Thursday night last week and took valuable breeding birds worth more than £1,000 in total. Farmers David and Claire Neal say they have spent so many years with the chickens and some breeds are so uncommon that they will easily be able to identify many of the missing birds.
The flock included a mix of rare breeds in quartets – one cock and three hens – including lavender araucana, lavender pekin bantam and salmon faverolles. Mr Neal said a £500 cash reward was on offer for anyone who could provide information that leads to the flock being recovered.
The thieves broke into the farm at midnight last Thursday and systematically emptied breeding coups. Mrs Neal said they would not have got away unscathed as some of the cockerels were aggressive.
Some of the birds are worth £60 each but Mr Neal said the time dedicated to building up and breeding the chickens until they reach such a high quality makes the flock hard to value.
"Years of selective breeding has gone into them, the time involved is massive," he said.
"We have driven for miles around the country to collect the best birds. The Lavender Araucana Breeding Society of New Zealand wanted pictures of our birds because we have such excellent examples."
He emphasised the emotional attachment that has grown up between the owners and the animals.
"These were our pets as well, there's definitely a sentimental attachment as we have had them since they were eggs," he said.
"They are quite distinctive birds, we have photos of all our birds and may of them are very distinguishable." He said the chickens return an income through the sale of hatching eggs to other breeders and he believes the thieves will not be out to sell the birds but will instead keep them for themselves.
The raid was neatly executed according to the Neals with the perpetrators aware of what chickens were there and how best to get around the security systems. Poultry crates were also taken to transport the stolen birds.
The incident follows a previous theft a few days earlier when two geese were stolen. Anyone who has any information should contact PC Andy Brookes, of Whitehill Police, on 0845 045 45 45.
Steep Marsh
Surrey
GU32
