Investigation launched after thousands of chickens left for dead at Queensland egg farm

Thousands of chickens have been rescued from an egg farm in Queensland’s south-east and authorities are investigating claims that they were abandoned.

The owners of a property in a rural community south of Toowoomba put a call out on social media earlier this month seeking new homes for more than 3,000 chooks.

“The tenants have now moved on, leaving behind hens,” the owners said.

Toowoomba resident Naomi Watts was among those who helped rehome the laying hens.

Ms Watts said it was a confronting scene.

“It was pretty bad,” she said.

“There were a lot of dead chooks everywhere.

“The smell was just unbelievable.”

I’m still reeling — it’s like something out of a bad movie.”

Overwhelming response

It is not known how many hens died, but the thousands that survived were rehomed to locations around Toowoomba over six days.

Ms Watts said the community response was overwhelming.

“Everyone loves a free chook, but most people I’ve talked to are really delighted to be able to help,” she said.

“If they hadn’t been able to be rehomed, the owners had no way of feeding them all, so they quite possibly would have ended up dying.”

An owner of the property declined to comment when contacted by the ABC.

The property was leased at the time.

Complaint made

RSPCA Queensland told the ABC it had referred a complaint about the egg farm to the Department of Agriculture and Fishing (DAF).

A DAF spokesperson confirmed on Thursday that an “animal welfare report” relating to a poultry establishment had been received, but declined to comment further because the matter was under investigation.

RSPCA Queensland said it regularly received complaints about abandoned animals.

“It’s best to report these animals rather than taking them into your own care,” spokeswomen Emma Lagoon said.

“There can be issues around ownership, biosecurity risks, trespass and potential theft of animals, along with appropriate care and costs associated with this.”

She said for people considering rehoming chickens, it was important to carry out several checks including parasite control and vaccinations.

“Considerations do need to be made in regards to who they are rehoming animals to, and contacting local livestock rescue groups to ensure animals are going to good homes that know how to care for hens,” Ms Lagoon said.

Ms Watts said the family’s four chickens, which her daughters named “Fat Chook”, “Sparkle Chook”, “Freckled Chook” and “Rhode Chook”, were now settling into life as backyard chooks.

“It’s been really nice watching them experience grass and sunlight, and they get in the sun and dust bathe,” she said.

“It’s really nice watching them settle into life as backyard chook.”