Fashion for back-garden poultry attracts chicken rustlers / Independent, 30 June 2008
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/fashion-for-backgarden-poultry-attracts-chicken-rustlers-856900.html
Ian Johnston
"Rare hens are being stolen to order by gangs of chicken rustlers after prices soared to as much as £250 a bird following the high-profile campaign to promote free-range by the chefs Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. It is estimated that 1,500 birds have been stolen this year to meet the demand for rare breeds such as the Orpington, Marans and Welsummer. They are being taken largely from people keeping poultry for the first time, often in their back garden, who are prepared to pay considerably over the market price for a good-looking hen."