When celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver, began a highly visible campaign encouraging his fellow countrymen to only buy free range chickens, many Brits answered the call. A fair number of citizens even built chicken coops in their backyards to establish their own free-range food source. Consequently, the demand for fowl is on the rise and there is an actual shortage occurring. Where there are shortages, there are black markets and a rise of the dreaded chicken rustler.An estimated 1500 birds have been stolen so far from livestock breeders. Purebred birds like Orpingtons, Marans and Welsummers are in especially high demand and can be sold to first time buyers at a premium -- because first time buyers like pretty birds. It is not uncommon for a single purebred chicken to sell for 100 pounds.
Over 300,000 Britains raise chickens. That's a lot of free range eggs. With the market growing, theft is not expected to diminish.
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