An estimated three million chicks were killed in a fire which destroyed the UK's biggest independent hatchery.

About 100 firefighters took four hours to bring the fire under control at Mayfield Chicks, in Haslingden, near Blackburn. Crews are still damping down at the scene.

All the staff were safely evacuated. Mayfield Chicks is the biggest independent hatchery in the country, breeding more than one million chicks every week.  Company directors are meeting to discuss the future of the site although manager Mike Haines has vowed the company, which employs 45 people, will bounce back.

He said: "We are not exactly sure what caused this. It has to be assessed by the fire brigade."  A spokesman for Lancashire fire brigade estimated that three million chicks were in the building.

He said it was too early to determine the cause and fire investigation officers were working with police and factory bosses to try to establish what happened.

A 15-year-old Devon girl who claims she can 'talk' to her pet goose Duffy is to feature on BBC's Pet Rescue.

Katrina Lindfield says she can speak to her goose, talk reasonable chicken and is even attempting duck. The teenager, from Whimple, near Exeter, has trained her goose to pose and help her raise money for Macmillan Cancer Relief and Exmouth Hospital.

When she is older Katrina hopes to be a professor in poultry husbandry, psychology, language and communication and become a 'chicken whisperer' rather than a 'horse whisperer', reports the Express & Echo.  Explaining how she trained Duffy, Katrina said: "I've trained her not only to listen to voice commands but also to whistle commands. She's shop trained and almost house trained. There are no mishaps in shops.

"I can tell her exactly what I want her to say. Some people say they can hear it, while others just hear honking. She can try. A lot of the time it's quite difficult. She can also pose for the camera when I tell her. She's a natural poser. She can pose completely still."  Katrina added: "I want to be the best in my field. I'm the only one that I know of who knows how they speak. You can get a 'horse whisperer', I want to be a 'chicken whisperer' which is difficult."

Jane Topping, senior producer of Pet Rescue, said: "Katrina's really passionate about animals and really knowledgeable. She's really mature for her age. I was surprised she was only 15. She's a likeable character."

Katrina and Duffy's story will be told on Pet Rescue this autumn.

A new Zealand animal welfare group say plans to hold a chicken flying contest for charity are cruel.  Auckland businessman Paul Snowdon says the competition would involve placing hens on an elevated perch, with the winner flying the furthest from it.

He wants to hold the competition in Albany's Kell Park, which is known as chicken country.  But the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says the contest could exploit chickens.  SPCA Auckland chief executive Bob Kerridge told the North Harbour News hens may be abused by people who go too far.

He said: "We are always concerned about public events using animals, particularly in competitive form. They normally bring the animal into ridicule."  Mr Snowdon has written to the council about the event, which would raise money by charging people entry fees.

He said: "No chicken would be allowed to enter if it shows signs of injury, or looks unwell. There's no cruelty involved. It would be more of a fun day to see if you can win a prize."

North Shore City Council northern ward customer services manager, David Keay, says the application is extraordinary.

A Indiana casino is employing a group of chickens to take on gamblers at noughts and crosses [Tic Tac Toe].

The chickens are always allowed to go first and make their choice by pecking on a game screen. Visitors watch their opponent's move from inside a game booth and touch the screen to respond.

Bosses at Casino Aztar say players who manage to beat the bird will win the equivalent of £3,430 [about $5,000].

Spokeswoman Pam Martin said: "It's possible to beat the chickens, but they're very good."  The 15 trained chickens are all leghorns from a farm in Springdale, Arkansas.

The first one to take part suffered 'stage fright' and another bird had to be called in to finish the game.  Casino officials say the games will move faster as the hens get used to their surroundings.