A MCKENZIE Creek man is devastated after thieves stole more than 30 of his prize hens from his backyard.
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Darren Khan said somebody went to his home on Monday night and handpicked all his best looking hens.
“We had show quality roosters, frizzles, pekins and other mixed breeds,” he said.
“They took about 30 chooks and about 15 babies, but they left the old roosters though and some old isa browns that don’t lay anymore.
“It definitely wasn’t foxes, because foxes don’t pick out the best ones.”
Mr Khan said his chooks were free-ranged and hand fed.
“People know what I have – I live on a corner so they are visible to everyone,” he said.
“I just want my girls back.
“This wasn’t some random driving past, they knew what we had and what to take – they only took ones that were worth something.”
Mr Khan said most of the chooks were worth about $40 to $50 each.
“We are just gutted that someone has come into our yard while we were home in bed – it’s unsettling,” he said.
Mr Khan said he believed the chooks were taken during a storm on Monday night.
“It was really windy outside and the dogs were carrying on, but I thought it was just because of the wind,” he said.
“We have other animals like budgies, goats and alpacas and they are all spooked now.”
Mr Khan has been raising chickens for more than 10 years.
“I’ve been looking after animals for years – now I hate going out to the yard, it’s like a morgue,” he said.
“I just feel deflated. If someone was that desperate for chooks, I would have just given them some.”
Mr Khan is encouraging his neighbours to be aware that there were thieves in the area.
“I’ve heard of other people who have had chooks stolen – we are a tight-knit community and all need to keep an eye out for each other,” he said.
Mr Khan hopes that if people saw his chooks being sold they would let him know.
He is involved in the Wimmera Poultry Society, and club members are also on the lookout for him.
“Many of them are light orange, and some are brown with lace through them,” he said.
“There are a few with big feathered hair-dos.”
Mr Khan said he had received a lot of support from the community since the incident.
He said people were sharing his story on social media and others had offered to give him chooks to restart his collection.