Cages rattled after truckload of chickens spills in Sonoma County

Hundreds of chickens are forced to cross the road after a rig crashed and overturned in Schellville, Calif. Nov. 16, 2017

Yes, these chickens were crossing the road. But they probably didn’t want to.

A double-trailer full of the live poultry overturned about 5:30 a.m. on Thursday on Highway 121 at Ramal Road in Schellville in Sonoma County, leaving thousands of chickens feeling like their cages had been rattled.

The truck overturned onto its roof off the side of the road into a vineyard. 

Many appeared to be alive after the crash, although a large group of them were hunkered down,  barely moving, while others were walking and squawking on the side of the road.

Petaluma Poultry responded to gather the estimated 6,000 chickens running loose on the road, CHP Officer Marc Renspurger said.

The driver was taken to the hospital with minor to moderate injuries, according to the California Highway Patrol. 

 CHP officials said the highway might reopen by around 5 p.m.