PETA activists protest Leno

A flock of animal-rights activists dressed as chickens descended Tuesday on NBC Studios to shame Jay Leno into dropping McDonald’s from a planned promotion.

Flapping their wings and hoisting signs that read “McDonald’s: Nothing But Cruelty,” and “McCruelty: I’m Hatin’ It,” protesters with the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals lined a stretch of Bob Hope Drive as “The Jay Leno Show” prepared to unveil a promotion for McDonald’s Monopoly contest.

Guests waiting in line for the prime-time taping gasped as PETA organizers implored the show’s host to use his influence to benefit the millions of birds that end up as McNuggets.

Iftach Shapira of Israel snapped photos of the chickens, saying that he closed down his chicken farm due to inhumane treatment that runs rampant in the farming industry.

The 29-day in-show promotion, hailed as “The Jay Leno Show’s” first major ad buy, was scheduled to begin Tuesday. PETA organizers said they hope attention on slaughterhouse practices that include scalding the birds in “defeathering” tanks before slitting their throats persuades the fast-food giant to change its ways.