Ouseburn Farm gifted £1.9k in donations after chicken thefts

A city farm which had eight rare chickens stolen says it has been "bowled over" by receiving £1,900 in donations.

The birds were likely stolen from Ouseburn Farm in Newcastle on the evening of 17 August, its manger Katie Bates said.

The farm said it had received an "outpouring of support" and could now add to its chicken flock, along with heightened security systems.

Police asked anyone with information about the theft to get in touch.

The farm said the chickens, which all belonged to rare breeds, were worth about £400.

One of the birds is an Ayam Cemani and had been raised from birth by one of the team's farmers.

The breed is particularly unusual as it is all black, including its meat and organs.

The remaining seven birds were Silkies and Banthams.

Manager Katie Bates said the team were left "devastated and really worried about the safety of the animals".

"We have been bowled over by all of the generous donations we've received, so far totalling over £1,900," Ouseburn Farm wrote on social media .

The farm said it hoped to rehome some commercial egg production hens and get some more classic and rare breeds from local farms.

The remaining donations would go to heightened security systems and keeping the other animals fed, the farm added.