Lone chicken found at Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport, searching for home

Julia Fair | The News Leader

The cluck is ticking after a lone chicken was found at the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport on Tuesday.

No fowl play was suspected when the Augusta County Animal Control was notified of the wandering bird who seems to be a white leghorn between 6 and 9 months old. The owners have until June 15 to claim the chicken.

After that, the chicken will be available for adoption.

Since the airport is located in a rural area, it sometimes deals with wildlife issues, Greg Campbell, executive director for the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport, said.

He added it posed no danger to the public.

Could it have escaped from an airplane?

No, Campbell says.

Animal control escorted the chicken from the airport to the Shenandoah Valley Animal Services Center, where staff trimmed his overgrown beak and fed him bird feed, Beth Robertston, director of the Shenandoah Valley Animal Services Center said.

As of Thursday, no one had come forward to claim the chicken.

"It's a very friendly chicken," Robertson said. "We put him in a dog kennel and gave him chicken feed."

Robertson is used to animal control bringing wild animals in, such as pot belly pigs, but she said this is the first chicken she's taken in.

Until the owner comes forward or an adoption is made, the chicken will remain at an animal shelter volunteer's home.

Here's the shelter link for The Airport Chicken: