A pilot project set up in Australia is recommending commercial development of leather made from chicken skin.  Experts believe it could be used for items which require grip, such as steering wheels, gloves and mobile phone covers.

The move to chicken leather has been prompted by the successful use of emu leather.  Dr John Dingle, of the University of Queensland's School of Animal Studies, says leather could provide another use for old chickens which usually end up in pet food.

Skins have already been tanned and dyed before being sewn into various products to test their strength and durability.  News.com.au reports chicken leather came up thicker and stronger than expected, with a texture much like that of chamois but with clusters of follicles like ostrich leather.

Dr Dingle said Australia's egg producers would also benefit, with a return of around 35p a bird with its skin used for leather, compared to 25p for its meat only.

He added: "There's an unsatisfied demand for leather world-wide so whatever you can produce will be taken up."

It's thought the idea of wearing chicken leather may not hold great appeal without a name change to make it sound a little more 'up market'.  Researchers have suggested "poulard" as a working title.  Dr Dingle says all that is needed is an entrepreneur to come up with the funds to develop the Oulare industry.

An Australian museum says it's found the remains of giant pre-historic geese.  The Northern Territory Museum believes the fossilised remains discovered in central Australia are a significant scientific find.

The museum's Peter Murray says two of the species of geese found would have weighed between 150 and 200 kilograms each.  He adds the largest species would have weighed up to half a tonne. 

ABC reports they roamed the Al Coota area, north east of Alice Springs, up to 8 million years ago.

Mr Murray said: "These of course are flightless birds and they looked rather like emus and ostriches or moas but in fact we found they're really related to ducks and geese.

"In fact they're giant geese, giant flightless geese, which of  course makes them all the more peculiar."