Police are baffled after thieves stole 13 chicks - including one with wonky feet.
Lorraine Crayden, discovered almost half of her ten-week-old chicks had been stolen in the night.
he 41-year-old only started breeding them a few short months ago for eggs, and had been tending them daily.
"I grew very attached to them," she said.
Despite having security lights at her house in Woodham Road, Stow Maries, near Maldon, Mrs Crayden discovered 13 out of 28 chicks were missing, and is worried they may not be looked after.
It is unclear why they have been stolen as they are not valuable and too young to be eaten. The chicks are a mixture of grey brown and white black speckled with two Black Rock hens taken as well.
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