Mainland soccer craze spreads like bird flu ... to Shenyang farmer's football-mad roosters, whose aim is true

Everyone knows Chinese are crazy about soccer, but apparently some mainland roosters are too.

A farmer from Shenyang , capital of northeastern Liaoning province , accidentally dropped a soccer ball in front of two of her roosters three months ago. Since then, the birds have been playing with it every day, even aiming the ball before a kick, according to a China Daily report. The farmer once tried to take the ball away, but the roosters went looking for it. She didn't have the heart to keep it from them.

But is it all a hoax?

Not necessarily, according to veterinarian Eric Lai. 'People say things like 'bird brain' because there is a widespread belief that all birds are stupid - this is a myth,' Dr Lai said.

'Some birds like parrots and roosters are actually quite smart from a certain point of view. They can be taught to do all sorts of things. The roosters may be bored, in which case the ball is a source of stimulation for them.

'What people need to understand is that they are not playing it as a game of soccer. We are projecting our own idea of a soccer game onto them.'