The new genetically modified strain of chickens that are claimed to be able to resist bird flu are actually cats say poultry farmers.
Professor Alan Song who headed up the research team strenuously denied these claims. "Admittedly altering the chicken's genes has had a minor cosmetic effect" he said. "We have noticed a dramatic shortening of the wings and the birds feathers taking on more of a fur like appearance, but the flavour is unaffected although perhaps the consistency of the meat is a little stringy."
Critics are unconvinced by these explanations though pointing to the long slender tail, a mouth full of teeth instead of a beak and purring when stroked as evidence that what the professor has unveiled is actually a cat. The fact that it tastes like chicken is no proof at all they say as all unknown meat tastes 'a bit like chicken'.
Suspicions were raised futher last night by the revelation that Professor Song owns a chain of catteries. Attempts to prove doubters wrong by releasing grainy footage of one of the so called chickens hatching has so far failed to convince. "That is a kitten emerging from a pre cut rugby ball" said Peter Wilson of the British Poultry Association.
Song accepted some of the criticims of his GM chickens. "We do have a slight issue with them being susceptable to feline flu, and also the small matter that the animals are unable to produce eggs, but these are minor problems when compared to the threat of avian flu".
This news also casts doubt on the work being undertaken at a research facility in Battersea on a Swine Flu resistant pig that barks.
