Birds killed in stampede to shed doors during storm

The birds were scared by the noise, rain and wind and packed up on each other in a stampede to the shed doors.

At least 2000 of the birds died in the crush and the farm, which is part of the Tocal Agricultural Centre, was left to safely dispose of the dead. 

This figure is considered a small loss compared to the 50,000 chickens kept on the premises, but it is the ongoing losses that have really disrupted business at this site and many other poultry farms.

“We are one of the worst-affected of the egg farmers,” Tocal Agricultural Centre manager Basil Gijsbers said. “The birds are stressed after the experience. 

“Egg production has dropped by about 10 per cent and that means the loss of thousands of dollars.”

The monetary loss from decreased egg production in this laying cycle equates to about $30,000 for the farm. This does not take into account the cost to repair structural damage to the site.

Work on new fencing had just wrapped up when the storm hit the region.

The farm was in the middle of a transition from chicken production to become a free-range egg farm.

“We lost hundreds of metres of fencing,” Mr Gijsbers said. “Outside was a lake so we couldn’t let the birds out for some time.

“The roller doors were blown out by the wind.”

Mr Gijsbers said the quality of the eggs had not suffered from the disruption of the storm, but he did have to get the birds back into their daily routine to get egg production up again.

NSW Department of Primary Industries development officer for poultry eggs Joanna Blunden said the industry was vulnerable to these types of events.

“We have a large industry, but it’s made up of a lot of small farms,” she said.

When the water and power cuts out in events like the super storm, farms are left to survive on tank water and generators.

Ms Blunden said most farms were in recovery mode.