Weird News: Stolen Chicken Reunited With Brother

As a local news organization, Patch covers stories of all kinds, from heartbreaking tragedies to inspiring tales of community brotherhood. But some stories are just plain weird. Here are some of the stranger headlines from the past seven days.

Brothers of a Feather

Heckyll, one of two chicken mascots at the B.T.J’ Jungle store in West Islip, is back at the Sunrise Highway store hanging with his brother, Jeckyll, and recuperating from a pet napping experience that took place at the exotic pet retailer on October 8.

The year-and-a-half old black silky chicken was taken by a thief who also snared two large Koi fish, pond décor items and more than a dozen 15-inch turtles in a heist caught on video surveillance.

“He’s doing great. It’s just amazing we got him back,” store employee Jennifer Coppola told Patch Wednesday in a phone interview. “He’s very happy, running around,” she said with a laugh.

Jeckyll is also very happy, Coppola added, noting the brother left behind was clearly upset after Heckyll was taken.

“He was definitely disoriented and seemed kind of lost without him,” she said.

Heckyll’s abduction was actually a botched attempt by the thief to take both the brothers, according to storeowners who caught the theft on video surveillance.

The burglar clearly came prepared to steal the siblings as he brought two pillowcases to house each snatched chicken. But while grabbing Heckyll proved easy, as he’s more laid back, noted Coppola, grabbing up Jeckyll proved to be a tough challenge.

“He [Jeckyll] is just crazy while Heckyll is tame and on the tape we see the guy running around trying to catch him [Jeckyll] and then give up,” related Coppola.

Heckyll’s odyssey home began Monday when the store got a call from a woman who had been jogging in a nearby park and recognized the chicken from media reports.

One of the owners and an employee ran over and scooped up Heckyll with a net.

The two feathered brothers are now back to doing what they do best  – strutting around and entertaining customers.

They likely be strutting a bit more later this week given a surprise that's coming, shared Coppola.

“We’re getting in two hens as additional mascots, so after all this trauma they’ll be able to have some fun and start making some babies,” she said.

Written by Judy Mottl