FIVE stricken chickens were found "dumped" at the side of a busy dual carriageway earlier this week.

The chickens - three cockerels and two hens - were only discovered by chance and looked "lethargic, dull and depressed".

They had been left in an "emergency stopping only" layby on Airevalley Road (A650), heading towards Bingley from Crossflatts roundabout, on Tuesday.

A RSPCA rescuer, Inspector Taylor, was the person who spotted the chickens in a precarious position and acted on instinct.

She had been on her way to another job, but had to save the feathered friends.

She said: “In my job I’m always ready for the unexpected but it was still a bit of a surprise to see these chickens roaming loose in the lay-by.

"I pulled over straight away and managed to catch four of the birds and take them to a local vet, but sadly, it was quite obvious straight away that they were very unwell.

"They were lethargic and looked dull and depressed.”

The RSPCA is now appealing for any information about who may have abandoned the birds.

Anyone who can help, or saw anything on the morning of Tuesday, February 16, should contact Inspector Taylor on the inspector's appeal line, by calling: 0300 1234 8018.

You should quote reference number: 00510836.

Inspector Taylor said: “This was such a remote and unusual location for chickens to have strayed on their own, I have little doubt that they were deliberately dumped by their owner.

"Sadly it’s not uncommon for us to be called to rescue abandoned cockerels.”

Last year (2020) the RSPCA dealt with 1,594 incidents related to chickens across England and Wales, including 62 in West Yorkshire - more than any other county.

The charity also took in 280 chickens into its centres for rehoming.

Concerns were raised during lockdown last year about the increase in pet acquisition and ownership, and the RSPCA feared that people would soon lose interest and start to hand their animals over once life started to return to normal.

It also has concerns that this problem could worsen as cases of bird flu are confirmed across the country, in both wild birds and captive birds.

This means that bird keepers currently need to keep their birds contained indoors and the charity recommends the owners of all captive birds follow the Government’s biosecurity advice.