Birds' beaks wired together to 'make them quiet'

Three of the chickens in the man's enclosure had their beaks wired together. File photo / NZ Herald

A man who wired together the beaks of three chickens to "make them quiet" has been convicted in the North Shore District Court.

Yong Jin Kim pleaded guilty to three charges of failing to provide for the physical health and behavioural needs of an animal and causing the animal unnecessary pain and distress.

The charges were laid after a member of the public alerted the Auckland SPCA to the animals' treatment in April.

An SPCA inspector discovered three enclosures containing a total of 15 chickens, including three with wired beaks, which an SPCA veterinarian concluded had been in place for up to three weeks.

Wire was pierced through the nostrils of the beaks of two hens and one rooster, then twisted together under the lower beak to stop the bird being able to open its beak.

Kim stated in court he had wired the chickens' beaks to make them quiet.

SPCA Auckland director Bob Kerridge said the chickens would have experienced huge distress.

"According to the vet who inspected the chickens, the birds would have suffered considerable pain during the procedure," he said.

"The use of such barbaric measures on hens is utterly unacceptable.

I would like to extend our thanks to the member of the public who alerted us to the animals in distress and ultimately led to their rescue."

Kim has been ordered to pay veterinary costs of $1122.86 and legal costs of $2265. He was also disqualified from owning any poultry for five years.

The chickens have been re-homed by the SPCA.