A large python hiding in a retired policeman's chicken coop regurgitated a hen when it was caught.

The 10ft-long serpent had been pestering cop-turned-farmer Pradit Sukprasert after it ate his prized cockfighting roosters in Ang Thong province, central Thailand.

Rescuers arrived at the property and located the cheeky reptile that had eaten another bird that it stalked inside the cage on September 1.

Footage shows the snake hanging on the coop's rafter, full from its recent meal. The wranglers used a pole and a hook to drag it down before it was carried out in the open.

Its bulging stomach twitched as it squirmed on the grassy dirt until it spat out the hen that owner Pradit said had just laid two eggs.

Former Police Captain Pradit said: ‘I buy my roosters at 5,000 baht (112.60 GBP) to 7,000 baht (157.63 GBP) each. But one morning, I found out that some were already missing.

‘I thought someone had stolen them until we found it was a snake that's been doing it. We had to call for professional help.'

The snake was taken by reptile wrangler Ratha Tapianthong and her colleagues to be released into the wild.

The reticulated python is found throughout Southeast Asia, where they live in forests, swamps, canals and even in cities, causing them to come into conflict with humans. The species is one of the world's largest snakes and can eat humans, cats, dogs, birds, rats and other snakes.