US Pink Chicken Mystery Solved

Local Editor

The mystery of Portland's pink chickens is solved.

Multnomah County Animal Services said the birds' owner declared that he used food coloring, beet juice and Kool-Aid to dye the two birds, and then released them to "make people smile."
Owner Bruce Whitman of Portland, Oregon said the prank succeeded beyond his wildest hopes. In his words, "I didn't expect to get this many people to smile."

He stated that he tucked the chickens into a tree to roost early Thursday in a waterfront park, figuring they'd wake to a good day with water nearby and bugs to eat, spread some smiles and he would pick them up Thursday evening.

He soon heard news reports that the birds had become poultry celebrities.
Animal Services billed Whitman about $16 per bird for their time in custody, and cautioned him about the risks of releasing birds in public places.

He said he probably won't do it again - but he and the birds had now been invited to a couple of parades.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team