Australia-4,000 Chicken in road crash.

AUSTRALIA-4,000 CHICKENS IN ROAD CRASH.

The RSPCA assisted more than 4000 chickens following a truck rollover north of Adelaide yesterday.

The accident occurred on Main North Road, just south of Tarlee.

Early estimates indicate that more than half of the birds have died or will have to be euthanased.

This is the fifth incident of its kind in the last eight months.

In July last year there were two accidents within a week of each other resulting in the deaths of hundreds of sheep and thousands of chickens.

"Unfortunately road accidents involving the death of hundreds, often thousands of animals are all too common," RSPCA spokesperson Aimee McKay said.

"While the RSPCA recognises there are situations where the transportation of animals is necessary, the recent spate of incidents highlight the need to minimise travelling distances wherever possible. When you decrease the time the animals are on the road, you immediately decrease the risk of horrific injury and death."