Fire Breathing Chicken in a Cardboard Box

[yak1605522]

No: HPFGUIDX 184444

Hi everyone. I am rereading OP for the third time. In Chapter Seven 
(The Ministry of Magic) we have the following passage (page 129, 
scholastic):

A big, bearded wizard holding a large coardboard box stood nearby. 
The box was emitting rasping noises.
  "All right, Arthur?" said the wizard, nodding at Mr. Weasley.
  "What've you got there, Bob?" asked Mr. Weasley, looking at the box.
  "We're not sure," said the wizard seriously. "We thought it was a 
bog-standard chicken until it started breathing fire. Looks like a 
serious breach of the Ban on Experimental Breeding to me."

On page 130:

  "Level four, Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical 
Creatures, incorporating Beast, Being, and Spirit Divisions, Goblin 
Liason Office, and Pest Advisory Bureau."
  "'S'cuse," said the wizard carrying the fire-breathing chicken and 
he left the lift pursued by a little flock of memos.


It just struck me as odd that someone would attempt to contain a fire 
breathing creature in a cardboard box. Certainly the creature could 
breath fire and burn the box and escape (and besides for that, this 
is simply a fire hazard). Now the passage certainly gives us the 
impression that Bob is experienced at dealing with odd and possibly 
dangerous creatures. Why would Bob store/attempt to contain this fire-
breathing chicken in a cardboard box?

This Bob- I don't believe he is ever else mentioned in canon or that 
we know anything else about him (other than his first name and that 
he is big and has a beard). Do you think that any of this information 
helps us understand Bob's character a little more and helps us to 
understand a little better why he would put something that breathes 
fire in a cardboard container?

Thanks,
Yak