Thousands of Chickens Die Mysteriously Near Cuddalore

In a tragic turn of events, around 5,600 chickens have mysteriously died across six poultry farms in Kurinjipadi taluk, near Cuddalore, over the past four to five days. These birds were being raised for the upcoming Deepavali festival, and their sudden deaths have caused substantial financial distress to the farmers who had anticipated peak demand.

Initial investigations and official laboratory tests conducted by the Poultry Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Namakkal have excluded Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza as the cause. However, results are still awaited from the Pharmacovigilance Laboratory for Animal Feed and Food Safety to ascertain if toxins in the feed samples contributed to the mortality.

The incident first gained attention when a farm in Thimmanampettai village reported the deaths of 200 to 250 chickens. Subsequently, the remaining 3,500 birds on that farm also perished, alongside 1,910 chickens from five other farms. All deceased birds have been disposed of properly.

The Animal Husbandry Department has reinforced strict biosecurity measures in the affected areas. These include limiting access to farms, disinfecting vehicles and equipment, and maintaining high hygiene standards. As a precautionary measure, poultry farm owners in the zone are prohibited from selling chickens or introducing new chicks for a period of three months.