AN ANIMAL charity is investigating after six cockerels were abandoned without food, water or shelter in Basingstoke.

An off-duty RSPCA officer picked up a stray cockerel who he found at the side of Gershwin Road next to Brighton Hill playing field on Thursday, 7 September before a member of the public contacted the RSPCA after discovering five more young bantams near the car park of the same playing field on Friday, 8 September.

RSPCA inspector Jan Edwards said: “We don’t know where they have come from but fear they have been abandoned by someone.

“Sadly this happens more often than you would hope with cockerels because people don’t always realise that they can be noisy and require a lot of time and resources to care for them properly. However, with the right home and owner, they can make great pets.

“We encourage people who can no longer cope with caring for their animals to contact us for help and advice to avoid unnecessary distress and suffering being caused. It was completely unacceptable to risk the welfare of these birds by abandoning them in this way and it could have easily been avoided.”

The birds have been taken into private boarding where they will stay while investigations continue before starting the search for new homes.

The animal welfare charity is appealing for anyone who has information about how the incident to call 0300 123 8018.

The RSPCA says cockerels can be difficult to rehome as any new owners will need understanding neighbours who do not mind the noise of cockerels crowing. The charity added before deciding to keep chickens of any kind it’s important to consider whether you have the knowledge, time, facilities, money and commitment needed to care for them.

Anyone interested in rehoming a cockerel from the RSPCA can find out more about keeping chickens at rspca.org.uk.