Aussie watchdog unimpressed by chokable chickens

A chicken toy that squawks and flaps its wings when strangled is "grossly irresponsible" and sends the wrong message to young children, a spokesman for an animal welfare group said yesterday.

The toy is manufactured by a Taiwanese firm and is widely available in stores across Australia. It is aimed at children over three years of age.

A product description on the Web site of Jaycar Electronics, an Australian toy importer, says: "Grab him by the neck and he will squawk and cluck like mad, flapping his wings and feet wildly as if he is really being choked."

But Michael Beatty, a spokesman for the Queensland branch of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said the toy was "grossly irresponsible" and sent the wrong message to young children.

"What's next? Burn a cat? Shoot a dog?" Beatty said. "Children of that age are likely to turn around and try the same thing on their pet bird or even the cat or dog. Then they're going to wonder why the animal fights back."