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Luke Deal,at Copdockand Alice Cunningham,Suffolk
Getty Images/Luke Deal/BBC
A peacock arrived at Tom Walne's farm in Suffolk, but ended up terrorising his chickens
A peacock had to be captured after it terrorised a 92-year-old farmer's chickens.
Tom Walne, or Farmer Tom as he is more affectionately known across Suffolk, said the peacock appeared at his farm near Copdock on Monday.
While initially the bird was getting along with his chickens, things took a turn and the bird decided to cause mayhem and chase after the cockerels.
Farmer Tom's wife, Sandy Walne, asked a friend to appeal on social media to find the peacock's owner and while no-one has come forward, Easton Farm Park near Woodbridge agreed to take the bird for the time being.
Jamie Niblock/BBC
The peacock had made himself at home on Farmer Tom's land on Monday
Sandy said her husband had phoned her up on Monday, "ever so excited" and revealed they had a new addition at the farm in the form of the peacock.
The bird initially was enjoying time with the chickens, but by the next day he decided he had enough of his friends in the coop.
"On Tuesday morning he was still here and when I let the chickens out he just went loopy," Farmer Tom said.
"He flew at the chickens, eventually he separated the cockerel from the hens and he chased the cockerel."
Farmer Tom believed the peacock was asserting his dominance and despite the bird running riot on his land, he was able to capture it and get it safely in a pen.
"He thinks he rules the roost," Sandy added.
"He chases the cockerel all over everywhere so we've had to shut him up."
Luke Deal/BBC
Sandy Walne said her husband was initially excited at the prospect of having a peacock roaming free on their land
A friend of the couple put a message out on Facebook at the start of the week in an attempt to find if anyone owned the bird, but Farmer Tom said there had been no leads.
"Sandy's made lots of phone calls because we were told he was found at the farm over yonder," he continued.
"The outcome of that was yes they did have a peacock there and they do reckon this is the [same] one.
"He turned up there unannounced and they were pleased to get rid of him."
Jamie Niblock/BBC
The peacock was rescued by teams at Easton Farm Park
Farmer Tom added: "He's a nice looking bird and it'd be nice to say, 'Well I've got a peacock down there on my land', especially when I come here, sit and watch the chickens, and the wild birds.
"But I can't have him here if he's going to chase my chickens away."
The bird was taken to Easton Farm Park on Thursday after the ordeal caused the bird some stress and if he settles over the next few days it is likely he will stay at the park.
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