Free-range hens vanish from barn

Almost 200 free-range chickens have disappeared from a farm in Staffordshire.

They were last seen along with a 3.1 kW generator on Friday night at Willow Wharf Farm, Daisy Lane, Alrewas.

The 180 Goldline hens are worth about £2,000 in total and the owners have offered a £300 reward for information.

Staffordshire Police is treating the incident as theft and said a large vehicle would have been needed to transport the birds.

'Why us?'

Joanne Rawlings, who has run the farm with her husband Peter since June 2008, said the chickens belonged to their six grandchildren.

"There's been quite a lots of thefts of different stock in the area of late. It's probably the run up to Christmas and the recession, but why us? We haven't done anything to anybody. We were just getting on our feet," she added.

If a fox had taken them, it wouldn't have been able to unbolt and re-bolt the door Joanne Rawlings

She said one whole flock and half of another flock had "vanished". Police have ruled out a wild animal attack.

"If a fox had taken them, it wouldn't have been able to unbolt and re-bolt the door. There were also wheelbarrow marks and footprints across the fields," Mrs Rawlings said.

She said she put the hens away at nightfall and they were all accounted for when she went back a few hours later to check on them.

"In the day time they would have screamed their heads off and kicked up such a fuss, but at night, once they have gone to roost, they go into a dormant state and you could pick them up and they wouldn't have made any noise at all," she added.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Staffordshire Police or call Crimestoppers anonymously.