Chicken thieves ‘fowled’ again

With the onset of fall and winter and the curtailment of outdoor activities, I have once again turned my attention to wading through decades of family clutter.

Upon the advisement of friends, I will organize the vast amount of “stuff” over the winter months in anticipation of offering my treasures to more creative others in one or more giant estate sales.

“Estate” sale sounds pretty grandiose, but there will be a few antiques — I came across one of those old Hoosier cabinets in the barn — and a lot of collectibles, often a fancy word for junque.

I am severely hampered by a reluctance to throw anything away and a desire to examine every paper, picture and item. Just yesterday I discovered a copy of the Virginia Star, Culpeper, Virginia dated April 16, 1936. It is now spread out on my kitchen table. I may not choose to save it, but I decided to share a couple of interesting stories all about chickens and chicken thieves.

Apparently, the theft of chickens was big business and running amuck across the nation. In an article spotted on the front page the writer attested to the economic hardships caused by the “wholesale robberies of henhouses” in the area. The problem had become epidemic, forcing many farmers to sell out their stock of chickens and turkeys at whatever prices they could get, rather than have them stolen.

The headline accompanying yet another article found on page nine in this paper read, “URGED TO FIGHT POULTRY THEFTS.” The article reported that after studying the tactics being employed to thwart “this evil” in other states, the Va. State Poultry Federation advocated the “tattooing of fowls for the protection of farmers.”

It was believed that the thefts were carried out by gangs of men, “sometimes cleaning out an entire poultry plant in one night.” The plan was to replicate the cattle branding system in the west found to be a significant deterrent to the low-life cattle thief. Prior to the April 16th publication , more than 1000 Virginia farmers had enrolled in the program, displaying large signs at warning potential perpetrators that their chickens were protected by the branding program.

Interestingly, the article found on the front page promised an end to the Culpeper dilemma. The headline read, “OFFICERS ARREST CHICKEN THIEVES.” Two officers credited with the successful chicken sting engaged the suspects in a “spirited” chase through Fauquier County, that ended only after the rear tires of the fleeing car were shot out by the police.

Arrests were made and suspects were returned to Culpeper for incarceration.

I would have to find a later newspaper to know for sure if the capture of this “organized gang of chicken thieves” was the end of this troubling situation for Culpeper farmers. However, the article claimed the following: “The officers, who are continuing their investigations, believe that there will be other arrests within a short time.”

Hopefully, the days of tattooed chickens were over.

Until next week, be well.