New rules require chicken owners in England and Wales to register any chickens they have which are kept outdoors, with penalties of up to six months’ imprisonment and/or fines of up to £2,500 for each unregistered bird.

Previously, only flocks of more than 50 birds had to be registered – but the regulations have been tightened amid concerns about avian flu.

However, chicken owners who believe the new regime is heavy-handed have protested in droves by registering cooked chicken meals and even humans in chicken costumes.

Within an hour of going live last week, the registration page on the Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (Defra) website had crashed, according to the Daily Mail.

A spokesperson for Defra said: “We have been made aware of ongoing issues with the online portal.

“We have received a high number of applications and are working at pace to process these, but you can still register if you keep birds by completing the form and submitting it by email or post.

“This register is an important step in combating the spread of bird flu, providing keepers with important information about a disease that has had a significant impact on the poultry sector.”