8 Chickens Die in Senior Prank at High School

LARKSPUR, Calif. —  Four Marin County high school students were suspended after they allegedly released dozens of chickens in school hallways as part of a senior prank and eight of the birds died, school officials said.

The seniors at Redwood High School in Larkspur, north of San Francisco, could be barred from graduation ceremonies and face animal cruelty charges for their involvement in the prank, according to school and animal control officials.

The students apparently bought the chickens at a “live market” in San Francisco and stored them in boxes inside a car before releasing them into the school’s hallways Thursday morning, said Principal Nancy Neu.

Seven chickens were found dead at the school, and another died later. About 30 other chickens were taken to the Marin Humane Society with various injuries.

“We’re absolutely outraged,” Neu said. “Our staff and our students are outraged. The students will be disciplined appropriately. It’s just awful.”

The students could face animal cruelty charges, said Carrie Harrington, a Humane Society spokeswoman.

The surviving chickens might be put up for adoption when they recover, she said.

“Dehydration was our biggest concern for them,” Harrington said. “Chickens sometimes live in some pretty deplorable conditions. These chickens had been in pretty bad shape for some time. We’re all pretty disgusted by it.”