Seven teenagers who beheaded two chickens because they were curious whether they would run around with their heads cut off will soon learn a lot more about the birds.

Judge John R. Turner ordered the five young men and two young women -- ages 17 to 19 -- to clean chicken coops and read a book about animals' feelings as part of their sentence.  They were also ordered to turn in a report on it.  and to perform community several hours cleaning chicken houses.

The teens were convicted of animal cruelty charges.

In September 2003, the teens went to a Wal-Mart and bought machetes, kitchen knives and a hatchet, then drove to a chicken farm and stole 8 chickens.  They beheaded 2 chickens, videotaping the carnage before the homeowner caught them.

Defense attorney Garland Moore criticized the state for initially charging the teens with the deaths of eight chickens, not two, on the premise the other six died because of the stress of witnessing the beheadings.  Moore attributed the behavior of the teens to youthful curiosity.

"Had the state pressed the issue, I was prepared to ask for an autopsy on the six chickens to determine if they actually died from stress," he said.

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