The boss of a website that has made worldwide stars of his pet chickens is spitting feathers after being accused of conning fans.

Neil Whitaker, who rules the roost at www.hencam.co.uk, has hit back at claims the non-profit-making site he started for a joke was actually a money-spinning ploy.

Mr Whitaker, of Wilsden, said he was so upset by internet comments by a Scottish egg retailers' group that he almost pulled the massively popular site providing live coverage from the coop of pet hens Milly, Tilly and Penny.

Hencam has had more than 100,000 hits plus television and national press interest since its launch last month.

An army of hen-fans from the US, Canada, Europe and Hong Kong regularly e-mail Mr Whitaker about the news from the coop.

The row began when the Scottish Egg Producer Retailers' Association (SEPRA) website claimed Mr Whitaker was fleecing fans by asking for a 50p donation to feed the famous trio for a day.

SEPRA's Dennis Surgenor wrote that the site was "really worth a visit, if only to show how the public can be conned, mainly because of our apparent love of animals".

He said chicken feed should cost just 2p per hen and asked what Mr Whitaker was doing with the remaining 48p.

Furious Mr Whitaker has e-mailed SEPRA, claiming Mr Surgenor had misinterpreted the site he started after joking with friends about wacky website ideas.

And hencam fans have bombarded SEPRA with e-mails demanding an apology.

"I was pretty distraught when I read it. I was being accused of being a con-man" said dad-of-one Mr Whitaker.

"The aim has never been about money, it's always been about keeping three pet hens on the internet."

Mr Whitaker, 35, said Mr Surgenor's sums did not apply to hencam because fans' donations helped maintain Milly, Tilly and Penny's diet of strawberries, lettuce and grapes - as well as the hen feed.

He added that he received only 28p from every 50p after the administration costs.

"As anyone who spent more than a cursory visit to the site has realised, this was all set up to be a bit of fun, and maybe let people see what a chicken gets up to 24 hours a day," he said.

"If any money came in from people showing their support, then it would go towards keeping the hens in the manner they are accustomed to - they are the stars so they have to be happy - and keeping the site going, whether that be buying new equipment or for hosting."

He added: "For what it's worth, none of the money donated has gone towards my hosting costs - it's all been used for the hen's food and treats, and towards the new outdoor camera which has kept the site running better than ever."

Mr Surgenor told the Telegraph & Argus: "In my opinion the potential is there to make money. My criticism was that it does not cost 50p to feed a hen for a day - even feeding grapes won't cost that.

"The man's entitled to have his website, but we certainly won't be apologising - though there will be a comment on our site."