85,000 Hens Killed In Connecticut Chicken Coop Collapse

HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut agriculture officials say the collapse of a farm building because of heavy snow has killed 85,000 egg-laying hens.

Department of Agriculture Commissioner Steven Reviczky (reh-VIS-kee') said Thursday the chicken coop collapsed Jan. 27 at the Kofkoff Egg Farm in Bozrah, a small town southeast of Hartford. He says the number of hens killed was reported to the state recently. He says the dead birds were incinerated.

Farm representative Ken Pauze (paw-ZAY') confirms the hens died but won't comment further.

The state says back-to-back snowstorms and a recent ice storm have brought down the roofs of more than 130 barns, greenhouses, equipment buildings and other farm buildings. More than a dozen dairy cows, two horses and a calf have been killed in building collapses.

Comments

[Christie Nichole Feigal]

08:27 PM on 02/09/2011

This makes me sad.

[arnth01]

09:22 PM on 02/08/2011

What's the difference between a roof collapse and getting their heads cut off

[xstevejx]

06:12 PM on 02/09/2011

They usually have to discard the yummy things in this case...depending on circumstances.

[NYCFoodie]

10:59 PM on 02/07/2011

The fact that there were 85,000 chickens in one farm building is the most heartbreaking to me.

[Uproar]

10:34 PM on 02/07/2011

That image of animal slaves is heartbreaking.

[Carbon Forteetoo]

01:24 PM on 02/07/2011

The building's load bearing supports must have buck-buck-buckled!

/so sorry.

[Subsoil73]

10:01 AM on 02/09/2011

Too bad Hee-Haw is off the air. You could be a writer

[NY Guy]

10:56 AM on 02/07/2011

That is a lot of McNuggets.

[alahnar]

11:28 PM on 02/06/2011

I think the bigger point should be that 85,000 hens in one building is considered "normal" or "healthy" to most Americans. Tragic, disgusting.

[morris111]

08:13 AM on 02/07/2011

Well, it was a very large building, and besides, they would have been rendered 85,000 "frozen" chickens if they would have remained outside in all that global warming induced snow.

[Uproar]

10:34 PM on 02/07/2011

what a stupid response to an intelligent post about overcrowded cages.

[Subsoil73]

10:05 AM on 02/09/2011

It was just 3 days ago that 85,000 humans were paying over $1000 a piece to be "cooped" up in Texas Stadium

[James Haviland]

11:36 AM on 02/06/2011

Apackoclucks Now!

[grumpyfarmer]

09:55 AM on 02/06/2011

It's always interesting to read the comments about farming on Huff post. I'm a farmer and I'll agree, the entire chicken industry leaves lots to be desired, both in the way the chickens live, and the way the big companies treat their contract growers. This isn't the result of some evil plot though, it is the result of providing consumers with what they have demanded, farmgate food prices that stayed way below the cost of inflation.

[mixnmatch]

01:46 PM on 02/07/2011

Truth...I was a Poultry farmer for many years. I can tell you our chickens were never without food, fresh air and heat when needed. Fact is we went broke providing it.....

[grumpyfarmer]

08:37 PM on 02/07/2011

I'll fan you for having firsthand experience, however it appears you really don't need anymore fans!

[1oldhippie]

09:44 AM on 02/06/2011

Two for one sale at KFC.

[AllowMeToObserve]

04:02 AM on 02/06/2011

I'm sure it was terrifying and painful for those birds to go that way, but I can't help being happy for them. It's the fact that their suffering is over. I refer to the suffering of their everyday lives, if you can call what they were living a life.

[ProudMilVet]

02:47 AM on 02/06/2011

Poor Animals

[Cheyla]

10:41 PM on 02/05/2011

These people should be charged with animal abuse and negligent homicide

[ThinkCreeps]

05:43 PM on 02/07/2011

Let's hold back on negligent homicide unless there's a human found in the wreckage.

[b525]

08:31 PM on 02/05/2011

"Yes....please step inside and have a look around....this is where we breed and raise all our finest bird flu viruses......er, I mean, hens.".....we're just a down home family operation who treats our meat....er, I mean birds, with the utmost respect.....oh, that one is dead.....just kick it out of the way and follow me.....I think your going to enjoy the tour".

[bcmom]

05:57 PM on 02/05/2011

Okay I will preface this with I am a vegetarian. 85,000 hens in ONE building is just plain cruelty.

[HappyMarsden]

01:12 AM on 02/06/2011

And think: That's not even as many as Frank Purdue had in his BATHROOM.

[Clay Dunn-Roberts]

04:23 PM on 02/07/2011

Think of all the poor vegetables you've killed. MURDERER! *Throws soy bean juice*