Why did the chickens turn pink? Owner says he wanted to ‘make people smile’

PORTLAND, Ore. – The mystery of Portland’s pink chickens is solved.

Multnomah County Animal Services says the owner, David Whitman of Portland, told the agency he used food coloring, beet juice and Kool-Aid to dye the two birds, then released them for a while to “make people smile.”

The chickens were picked up earlier this week running loose in the city’s waterfront park. They’ve now been reunited with their owner, who did not immediately return a call for additional comment.

Animal Services officials say they told Whitman about the dangers of releasing birds in public places. He was billed for the time the chickens were in the county’s care.