PETA’s Chicken Memorial Request Gets Scrambled by National Highways

A plucky attempt to honour fallen chickens with a roadside memorial has been firmly rejected—leaving animal rights charity PETA crying fowl.

The group had petitioned National Highways to allow a commemorative plaque at the site of a crash on the A12, where hundreds of chickens were reportedly killed. PETA wanted to pay tribute to the birds who, in their words, “suffered and died”—but officials weren’t exactly eggcited by the idea.

According to PETA, chickens are more than just Sunday roast material. The organisation says they have memories to rival elephants, chatter like parrots, and enjoy life with the energy of puppies—“and, most importantly,” they added, “they feel joy, fear and pain, just like we do.”

But National Highways said, not so fast, feather fans.

“We understand the loss of livestock can be upsetting,” a spokesperson said, no doubt gently side-eyeing the request,“but memorial signs on motorways are a distraction for drivers and a safety risk for people trying to visit them. So unfortunately, it’s a no.”

PETA was, unsurprisingly, hen-raged.

“These chickens died in pain and terror—they deserve to be remembered,” said Elisa Allen, Vice President of PETA.“Of course, all chickens raised for food suffer—whether packed into trucks or facing the slaughterhouse blade.If we can’t get a plaque, we hope people will honour them in another way: by going vegan.”

While their memorial plans have been scrambled, PETA remains hopeful that the message won’t be poached. They continue to encourage the public to reconsider their eating habits.