 Mr Sawdye is hopeful chickens would not be affected again |
A Devon farmer has been paid compensation by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) after low flying aircraft frightened some of his chickens to death. More than 50 of the birds died after two Royal helicopters flew at approximately 200 feet (60 metres) over Vic Sawdye's free-range farm near Exeter last October.
Mr Sawdye said the animals died of suffocation because, in their fright, many clambered on top of each other.
The MoD has paid �500 compensation to Mr Sawdye.
Predator shelter
Mr Sawdye said: "The birds panicked around to the house because they perceived the helicopter as a predator.
"If they see a white seagull in the sky, they'll just run for shelter.
"Because a helicopter is so much bigger, in this case, they ran for the houses and got in a smother."
The Ministry of Defence has admitted the chickens were frightened to death and paid the compensation.
Mr Sawdye said he is hopeful this will not happen again.
He said: "We can only assume that the MoD has put us on some plan where they ask pilots to evade us, because recently they were actually heading straight for us and both helicopters veered away when they were half-a-mile away."
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