Battle for Chip the traffic chicken: FIVE-way custody dispute over hen 'arrested' for causing gridlock on San Francisco's Bay Bridge

  • Chicken was taken in on California bridge's toll plaza this Wednesday
  • California Highway Patrol called her a 'felonious fowl' after traffic jam 
  • Shelter housing Chip received calls from three people saying they own her 
  • Two animal rescue groups have also expressed an interest in her
  • Shelter has asked owners to provide proof in order to claim Chip 

By Kieran Corcoran For Dailymail.com

Published: 19:32 EST, 5 September 2015 | Updated: 20:05 EST, 5 September 2015

A 'felonious' chicken who stopped traffic on San Francisco's Bay Bridge by trying to cross the road is at the center of a five-way custody battle.

The brown hen was 'arrested' by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) on Wednesday - and now has multiple parties asking to take her in. 

The chicken, who is being called Chip in homage to the CHP, was taken to the Oakland Animal Shelter after patrolmen took her in.

Fowling up traffic: Chip the brown hen is pictured above in the way of cars trying to navigate the toll plaza at the Bay Bridge in San Francisco

Fowling up traffic: Chip the brown hen is pictured above in the way of cars trying to navigate the toll plaza at the Bay Bridge in San Francisco

'Under arrest': Chip is pictured above with two California Highway Patrol officers. The hen's name is a reference to their CHP acronym

'Under arrest': Chip is pictured above with two California Highway Patrol officers. The hen's name is a reference to their CHP acronym

Officers described Chip as a 'felonious fowl' after she somehow got onto the toll plaza of the busy Bay Area bridge and got in the way of rush-hour traffic.

But despite her jay-walking, Chip still has more offers of a home than she can handle. According to the Oakland Tribune, three people have said that Chip belongs to them.

Two animal rescue groups have also reportedly put in bids to look after her.

Officials at the shelter have asked the would-be owners to come in to their facility with proof that she really is theirs, such as a photograph.

Chip appears to have recovered from her ordeal on the highway, and has even laid an egg at the shelter.

Traffic chaos: Chip caused the traffic jam at the Bay Bridge, which links San Francisco to Okland, California

Traffic chaos: Chip caused the traffic jam at the Bay Bridge, which links San Francisco to Okland, California

However, animal experts plan to take the egg away and replace it with a dummy as they don't want to get landed with any chicks.

It is unclear how Chip managed to get on the Bay Bridge in the first place.

One possibility suggested is that she escaped from a truck meant for the slaughterhouse, and stumbled in front of traffic in a bid to get to safety. 

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