A group of St. George's boys who wrung the necks of chickens, crushed baby chicks under their feet and threw some fowl into the ocean did so with the apparent approval of their parents.

"I am still sick to my stomach over what I saw happening behind the Royal Artillery Association in St. George's,'' a woman wrote to The Royal Gazette .

"There were boys about 12 years old and over killing chickens and baby chicks and throwing some overboard.'' The woman, who did not want her name revealed, told The Royal Gazette in a separate interview that the four boys were seen to drown, crush and twist the necks of the wild birds on Saturday.

She added the boys showed no remorse when passers-by intervened and that a mother of one of the boys condoned the act when it was brought to her attention.

"She thinks it's cute,'' the woman said, adding: "I know the chickens are wild, but they hurt no one. There are a lot of wild chickens in St. George's.

They shouldn't have to suffer like that.'' The woman, who described herself as an animal lover, said the boys were also "throwing stones at cows.'' "These children need to be punished. From what I understand, they have been doing this for a while. Can you imagine what they will be doing when they get older?'' Dr. Neil Burnie of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department said he was very disappointed that young people would engage in such acts.

"The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Parks attempts to provide education on responsible animal ownership and unfortunately there are fewer and fewer opportunities to get children involved in farming as such.

"The provision of some sort of school/farm environment where children can come and have direct contact with animals would be of great value.'' It is illegal under the Care and Protection of Animals Act of 1975 to "cruelly'' kill a domestic animal or an animal that has been subject to "confinement and captivity.'' Although the names of the St. George's boys are known to several parties, they have yet to be given to the Police, the woman who reported it all to The Royal Gazette said.