Boys attack hen, goose, smash ready-to-hatch eggs

BLACKBURN, England — Three boys, all under 10, were detained by police here after a "horrific" attack on two poultry pens early this week.

One of the children is accused of killing a hen after attacking it with a stick and bricks, before leaving a goose sitting on a nest of eggs terrified and covered in blood, as the others watched.

Police said the attack on the allotment garden in Darwen, England, also saw more than a dozen ready-to-hatch eggs smashed.

The boys, understood to be 8 and 9, and below the age of criminal responsibility, broke into the garden and headed for the specially designed sheds and runs which are home to more than 20 tame birds, police said.

Police said the children were apprehended after trying to return to the scene of their "carnage" the following day and have been referred to a specialist team of child behavior experts.

Donald Trump says he wasn't 'really' scared of feisty eagle

Inspectors from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, who were called to the incident, are planning animal welfare talks at nearby schools.

Keith Snoddon, who keeps the birds as pets, said: “This was a horrific attack. It was sheer carnage.”

Councilman Paul Browne, who represents Darwen, said: “This was a disgusting, disgraceful and horrific attack on defenseless birds.”

During the incident Sunday afternoon, police said the group terrified several other birds and smashed more than 15 hens, duck and goose eggs, some close to hatching.

Paint also was poured into water dishes left for the birds.

After the attack was reported to police Monday, a volunteer at the poultry refuge on the allotment spotted the three children coming back and scared them off.

The children were then detained by police.

Sgt. Dave Sherrington, of the neighborhood police, said the three children were questioned and one admitted the attacks and the other two confessed to standing by watching the assault on the birds.

He said they had now been referred to a specialist team involving social workers, police, probation officers and child behavior experts since they are too young to be help criminally responsible, which starts at 10.

“We were told the culprits were just eight and nine," Snodden, 57, said.

“I cannot believe they could to this disgraceful thing and then come back a second time. What will they do next?

“A hen was killed after being hit with a three inch by three inch stick and several large bricks.

“The goose, which would not move because she was defending her eggs, was then attacked in the same way.

“She was tortured and terrorized and left traumatized covered in blood.

“These are very tame, mainly rescued birds including former battery hens, and this would have been a terrifying stressful experience.

“They smashed more than 15 duck, hen and goose eggs and even poisoned the water dishes with paint.”

Sherrington said, “The offenders entered an allotment causing damage by throwing and smashing things.

“One hen appears to have been killed and items were thrown at a roosting goose, injuring it and causing it distress.

“Various eggs were also smashed."

Sherrington said that by being referred to the special multi-agency team, the experts will work to try to change the boys' behavior to prevent this from happening again.

“We are keen on restorative justice and for them to return and apologize to the owner so they realize the seriousness of what they have done.”

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Inspector Paul Heaton checked the health of the remaining birds Sunday.

"It was a very disturbing incident," he said.

Follow Bill Jacobs on Twitter: @BillJacobsLT