An Essex livestock owner claims to have reared the biggest cockerel in the world – with a diet of POPCORN.
Little John terrifies small children because he measures a staggering 26 inches – over two feet – tall.
And the huge year-old Brahma bird could get even bigger as he is expected to continue growing until his second birthday.
Owner Jeremy Goldsmith confidently claims he is a world-beater because he also reared the previous biggest Melvin who was 24″ tall.
Little John roams the 10-acre grounds of Mountfitchet Castle in Stansted, Essex., where he gets plenty of crisps and popcorn from visitors.
Jeremy, 45, said: “Little John looks massive compared to the other cockerels and chickens we have on the estate.
“I think he has grown so big just because he is treated well and you don’t get more free range then here.
“They have the chance to roam around and they eat differently to most other chickens.
“The kids often feed him sandwiches and crisps, but his favourite has got to be popcorn.
“Maybe that’s why he has got so big. He terrifies the children as he always comes up to them thinking they have food.
“Some of the kids are quite small so sometimes Little John is up to their waist.”
He added: “We’ve had him here since he hatched and we thought he might be the biggest because we held the previous Guinness World Record for the biggest cockerel.
“So we measured him and he was 26 inches which didn’t surprise us in the end.
“He’ll continue to grow until he is two years old, so who knows how tall he will end up.
“We’ve spoken to the people at the Guinness World Record who’ve confirmed Little John is the biggest, but they are sending someone to measure him.”
Brahmas are an Asiatic breed of chicken that originated from birds exported through Shanghai in China and were known as “Shanghai” birds.
Mountfichet Castle has been the home to the two previous title holders of ‘tallest cock in the world’ – Bertie and Melvin.
A spokesman for Guinness yesterday said: “If that measurement is verified then Little John would take the Guinness World Records title for tallest cockerel.
“We’d invite the owners to get in touch so that we can verify the claim.
“The current Guinness World Records title is held by Bertie, a Brahma cockerel, who measured 41 cm (16.1 in) on 5 April 2005.
“Bertie was measured for ITV’s Animal Roadshow at his home in Mountfitchet Castle & House On The Hill Toy Museum, Essex, UK. He was measured to the top of the wing joint.”
