Wilsden’s hencam started as nothing more than a joke between friends – now it is welcoming visitors from the other side of the world.

Australian Trevor Brylow, who enjoys logging on to the unusual internet site, hatched a plan to pay a visit to hencam headquarters during his trip around the world.

The website now gets at least 500 hits a day, which can rise to 1,000 if chicks are hatching. The birds are filmed round-the-clock by cameras that link up to a website. Hencam has proved so successful that its founders, Neil Whitaker and his daughter Scarlet Williams, are to start a 3D version.

Mr Brylow, 34, from Melbourne, said: “I am from Australia just doing a round the world tour so I figured I would check out the old chickens while I was in the area.

“I was just searching webcams on the internet when I saw an incubator with eggs hatching and it caught my attention. I have been interested ever since.

“It’s something I have seen on webcam for so long, so being able to see them in real life is great.”

The hencam was created in 2004. Mr Whitaker said: “The hencam audience seems to be growing and we have started an online forum.

“Trevor posted and said he was on a world tour so we asked him if he wanted to come here to see the hencam.

“We are starting with a 3D webcam that people can watch with the special blue glasses. It will be a good laugh.”

e-mail: will.kilner@telegraphandargus.co.uk