Chicken deaths in Tamil Nadu’s Cuddalore district have left poultry farmers seeking compensation and facing a reported three-month halt to sales and restocking, while accounts of the toll remain far apart.
Dinamani reported that a district administration survey counted 46,500 chickens that died from Oct. 30 through Nov. 5. The paper also said nine farm owners petitioned the district revenue officer for compensation on Nov. 6, and that he planned to refer their request to the state government.
Earlier reports gave lower counts. The Times of India cited an Animal Husbandry Department release reporting 5,600 deaths across six farms, while NDTV Profit reported an administration figure of about 26,000. NDTV Profit also said farmers estimated 40,000 to 50,000 deaths. The reports do not explain the gap between the administration figure and the survey tally cited by Dinamani.
Dinamani and The Times of India reported that the Animal Husbandry Department directed poultry businesses in the affected area to suspend bird sales and chick intake for three months. The Times of India said farmers had raised broilers for Diwali demand, so the restriction could prolong the disruption beyond the losses already counted.
A Nov. 2 report from the Poultry Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Namakkal ruled out low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI), according to an Animal Husbandry Department release cited by The Times of India. DTNext reported that tests for possible toxins in poultry feed were pending, citing Animal Husbandry Minister S. Kamali. An earlier DTNext report said officials were considering weather changes and high humidity as possible factors, but the cause has not been confirmed.
NDTV Profit said farmer Mohan had invested ₹40 lakh to ₹50 lakh in the business. It reported chicks selling for ₹47 to ₹48 each, while a 50-kilogram feed sack cost ₹2,500 to ₹2,600.
Mohan told English Bombay Samachar, “We are unable to survive this. We just sit here helplessly.” The reports gave no decision on the compensation request.
