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Ready to call fowl on 'hens'
A PET lover got a rude awakening when he got his birds mixed up.
The owner bought the three tiny animals believing they were hens - but they grew up to be cockerels.
Vets had to step in and rescue the cockerels from his Whitburn home when their early morning crowing woke up the neighbours.
The trio of three-month-old cockerels, Pablo, Douglas and Gordon, were rescued this month by bosses at Blythman and Partners Veterinary Practice after a frantic call from the distressed owner.
Head nurse at the branch, Nicola Edwards, said: "The owner of the cockerels originally bought the fowls when they were just chicks.
"He was under the assumption that they were hens and intended to keep them as pets and use their eggs.
"However, three months later and he found himself with three very young, noisy cockerels on his hands, constantly disturbing the neighbours with their early wake-up calls and fighting.
"Though he was loath to let them go, he had to for the good of his and his neighbours' sanity."
Vets at the branch in Boldon Lane are now doing all they can to find a new home for the birds at local community farms. All of the birds are perfectly fit and healthy, and one of the cockerels, Pablo, already has a new home with the father of a veterinary nurse at the branch.
If anyone is interested in finding out more about adopting the cockerels, contact the South Shields branch on 456 4209.
But Mrs Edwards warned that looking after a cockerel was "not a small responsibility".
She added: "There are many things to consider before adopting a cockerel.
"You will require a large space for them to roam in, which has some
shade.
"People would also need to bear in mind the noise levels, so you must take your neighbours into consideration beforehand."
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Weather for South Shields
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: West
