Rare chickens to be destroyed after latest tests reveal more chicks are infected with dangerous salmonella SA Poultry Assocation secretary Trudy Hull with rare breed chickens similar to ones in quarantine. A FLOCK of 4000 rare chickens have been handed death sentences, after another three birds tested positive to salmonella. Despite a public outcry and a Federal Court reprieve last week, the syndicate that imported the chickens were last night resigned to the fact the flock must be destroyed. The Department of Agriculture issued a destruction order for the flock, held in quarantine at Torrens Island, after an initial test revealed one chick was infected with salmonella . The Australian Rare Poultry Importation Syndicate, which spent 10 years and $500,000 to bring the breeds to the country, said it accepted the latest test results and their consequences. "The only responsible decision that could be made was to turn the flock over to the Commonwealth for destruction," the statement said. We are clearly disappointed that this first importation has been unable to consummate this remarkable effort, especially after the investment (physical and financial) provided by some of our key syndicate members. The chickens - whose plight was followed in blogs and petitions around the world - arrived in Adelaide as eggs in what supporters said was a "Noah's Ark" project to replenish the local gene pool. No new non-commercial breeds have arrived in Australia since 1948. The birds were brought here by a mix of conservationists, exhibitors and poultry hobbyists. The syndicate said despite the sad end, the saga had "resulted in a heightened level of awareness and interest in rare and heritage poultry that Australia has never seen before in such a short period."