Have you been hearing whispers about chicken farms going up in flames across America? You’re not alone. Many folks are wondering just how many chicken farms have been destroyed in recent years and the numbers are pretty shocking when you see them all together.
As someone who’s been tracking this issue for a while now, I gotta tell ya – the data paints a concerning picture. Let’s dig into what’s really happening to our nation’s poultry supply.
The Shocking Numbers: Chicken Farm Destruction by the Stats
According to the data from multiple sources, there have been dozens of incidents involving chicken farms and processing facilities over the past few years. The Animal Welfare Institute’s 2024 barn fire statistics along with compiled lists from American Faith and WLT Report reveal a troubling pattern.
In 2024 alone several major chicken farm fires resulted in massive losses
- Farina, Illinois: A staggering 1,200,000 chickens lost in May
- Lewiston, Utah: 120,000 chickens destroyed in April
- Ramona, California: 70,000 chickens killed in July
- Orange Cove, California: 17,000 chickens lost in February
- Newton, Kansas: 20,000 chickens destroyed in November
- Willards, Maryland: 20,000 chickens killed in November
- Federalsburg, Maryland: 28,000 chickens lost in June
- Moore County, North Carolina: 20,000 chickens destroyed in December
- Tonopah, Arizona: At least 10,000 chickens (exact number not released)
- Bryan, Texas: At least 10,000 chickens (exact number not released)
And this is just from the most recent data! When we look back at previous years, the numbers are equally disturbing.
A Disturbing Pattern or Just Bad Luck?
What’s really got people talking is the frequency of these incidents. Between 2021-2022, according to the list compiled by American Faith and shared by WLT Report, there were over 100 food manufacturing facilities that experienced fires, explosions, or other destructive incidents.
Many of these incidents specifically affected poultry operations. For example:
- In April 2022, an egg-laying facility in Iowa killed 5.3 million chickens
- In March 2022, 2,750,700 chickens were destroyed at an egg farm in Jefferson, Wisconsin
- In March 2022, 5,347,500 chickens were destroyed at an egg farm in Buena Vista, Iowa
I’ve been following this trend for years, and I can’t help but notice that the frequency seems to be increasing. What’s especially concerning is that these aren’t just small backyard operations – we’re talking about massive facilities that supply significant portions of our food chain.
Beyond Just Fires: Multiple Types of Destruction
It ain’t just fires we’re talking about here. The destruction of chicken farms and processing facilities has occurred through various means:
- Fires – The most common cause, with many facilities burning completely to the ground
- Disease outbreaks – Leading to mass culling of flocks
- Explosions – Several facilities experienced explosions from various causes
- Plane crashes – Bizarrely, multiple food processing facilities were hit by planes
- Weather events – Extreme weather has destroyed numerous facilities
One particularly strange case was in April 2022, when a plane crashed into Gem State Processing, an Idaho potato and food processing plant. Just a week later, another plane crashed into and reportedly destroyed a General Mills facility.
The Geographic Spread: It’s Happening Everywhere
These incidents aren’t concentrated in just one region. Looking at the data, we can see that chicken farm destruction has occurred across numerous states:
- Midwest: Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska
- Northeast: Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York
- South: North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Florida
- West: California, Utah, Arizona
This nationwide spread has raised eyebrows among industry watchers. Is this normal? Historical data suggests that while agricultural fires have always occurred, the frequency and impact of recent incidents appear to be unusually high.
The Impact on Food Supply and Prices
Let’s be real – when millions of chickens are destroyed in a short period, it’s gonna affect prices at the grocery store. The destruction of these farms has contributed to:
- Egg price increases of over 70% during peak periods
- Chicken meat shortages in certain regions
- Supply chain disruptions throughout the food industry
I’ve personally noticed the price jumps at my local supermarket, and I’m betting you have too. A dozen eggs that used to cost around $2 now regularly hits $4-5 in many areas.
Official Responses vs. Reality
Interestingly, despite these numerous incidents, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has repeatedly stated that “There are currently no nationwide shortages of food” and that “There are currently no wide-spread disruptions reported in the supply chain.”
But this seems to contradict what many Americans are experiencing in their daily lives. As noted in the American Faith article, the Associated Press reported that “tens of millions of Americans are already feeling the shortages and price hikes.”
Even more telling, a survey from the Food Industry Association found that 70% of retailers reported that supply chain disruptions are negatively impacting their business, up from 42% the year before.
Why Are So Many Chicken Farms Being Destroyed?
This is the million-dollar question, and honestly, there’s no simple answer. Several factors might be contributing:
- Aging Infrastructure: Many agricultural facilities operate with outdated electrical systems and safety measures
- Staff Shortages: Less personnel means less monitoring and maintenance
- Climate Changes: Drier conditions in many regions increase fire risk
- Disease Management: Some culling events are related to preventing disease spread
- Industry Consolidation: Fewer, larger facilities mean more concentrated risk
Some folks have suggested more conspiratorial explanations, pointing to the timing and frequency of these events. While I’m not personally endorsing these theories, it’s worth noting that even President Biden has warned about potential food shortages, which seems at odds with the USDA’s reassurances.
Protecting Our Food Supply: What Can Be Done?
As someone who cares deeply about food security, I believe several steps could help address this issue:
- Enhanced Safety Regulations: Stricter fire safety codes for agricultural facilities
- Decentralization: Supporting smaller, distributed farming operations
- Transparency: Better reporting and monitoring of agricultural incidents
- Preparedness: Developing contingency plans for food supply disruptions
- Personal Resilience: Building personal food storage and supporting local farms
Many farmers I’ve spoken with have already started implementing additional safety measures at their own operations, not waiting for regulatory changes.
How You Can Prepare for Potential Shortages
While I don’t want to sound alarmist, being prepared is just smart living. Here are some practical steps you can take:
- Support local chicken farmers in your area
- Learn basic food preservation techniques
- Maintain a reasonable emergency food supply
- Consider raising backyard chickens if your local ordinances allow it
- Stay informed about food supply issues
The destruction of so many chicken farms and processing facilities should serve as a wake-up call about the vulnerability of our food supply. Whether these incidents are simply unfortunate accidents or point to deeper problems, the fact remains that our food system is more fragile than many realize.
With over 1.5 million farmed animals (mostly chickens) killed in barn fires in 2024 alone according to the Animal Welfare Institute, and millions more in previous years, the scale of this issue cannot be ignored.
I’m not here to tell you what to think about all this, but I do encourage you to stay informed, prepare reasonably, and support efforts to create a more resilient food system. After all, few things are more important than ensuring we can all continue to put food on our tables.
What do you think about this issue? Have you noticed changes in chicken prices or availability in your area? Drop a comment below and let’s discuss!
Note: This article was updated on September 23, 2025, with the latest available information. I’ll continue monitoring this situation and provide updates as new data becomes available.
How taxpayers subsidize factory farming’s risks
This is far from the first time a hurricane has torn through the Southeast’s poultry industry. It’s happened multiple times over the last quarter-century, a period in which Big Ag has only doubled down on building more, and bigger, factory farms.
In 1999, Hurricane Floyd put much of eastern North Carolina underwater, killing an estimated 2.4 million chickens, 100,000 pigs, and half a million turkeys. North Carolina pig farms store the animals’ waste in giant manure “lagoons,” and several overflowed during Floyd, sending toxic sludge containing bacteria and viruses (including E. coli) into waterways and drinking water, according to the state’s climate office.
Chicken factory farms store manure in giant pits or as large mounds, creating a similar pollution risk as hog farms.
Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Florence in 2018 also caused devastation in North Carolina, killing millions of chickens and thousands of pigs, both of which caused damage to some manure lagoons, resulting in “fecal soup” discharge. Later the same year, Hurricane Michael destroyed over 80 chicken barns in Georgia that housed more than 2 million chickens.
Manure can seep into groundwater and contaminate private wells that many rural communities rely on for drinking water, a perennial concern heightened after major storms. A flooded hog farm in North Carolina after Hurricane Florence in 2018. Alex Wroblewski/Bloomberg via Getty s Farmed chickens died in the flooding in North Carolina after Hurricane Florence in 2018. Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals
Despite that history, the poultry and pork industries haven’t done much to mitigate the risks posed by natural disasters by, say, raising fewer animals on their farms or making major changes to how they manage the enormous amounts of manure their animals generate. That’s because US taxpayers bear much of the cost, both for the environmental cleanup and the dead chickens and pigs.
When natural disasters hit a typical chicken farm, the meat company — which technically owns the chickens, not the farmer — receives $3 per mature bird from the US Department of Agriculture, about 75 percent of the bird’s market value. The farmer that supplies to the meatpacker receives just 33 cents per bird.
Many chicken farmers, most of whom raise birds on a contract basis for meat companies, are already toiling in precarious economic conditions. Hurricanes and other natural disasters can make it much worse.
The federal government also reimburses economic losses from other severe weather, like heat waves and cold snaps, and disease outbreaks. Over the last two years, a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu — known as H5N1 — has resulted in the death of more than 100 million poultry birds, and the federal government has given well over $1 billion to the poultry industry, much of it going to the largest companies.
Livestock production is both a leading driver of climate change and, as Hurricane Helene demonstrates, a victim of it. As global warming increases the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, policymakers should question the factory farming model. Instead, as a recent federal accounting of the US agricultural system shows, we’re doubling down on it, raising more and more animals on bigger and bigger farms.
“In addition to all the environmental problems associated with the factory farm model, and the public health problems that it causes, at the end of the day the extreme concentration of animals is just a fundamental vulnerability,” said Chris Hunt, deputy director of the nonprofit Socially Responsible Agriculture Project. “It’s a vulnerability to unexpected shocks to the system … The fact that poultry is not only concentrated on [factory farms], but is also concentrated geographically, is certainly problematic.”
You’ve read 1 article in the last month
Here at Vox, were unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you — threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.
Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.
We rely on readers like you — join us.
We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
This moment demands more than headlines
In a time of noise, confusion, and spin, we’re committed to clarity, truth, and depth — even when it’s hard. That kind of journalism isn’t easy.
We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?
Factory farming makes hurricanes more dangerous, disgusting, and expensive.
Hurricane Helene, the Category 4 storm that slammed the American Southeast over the weekend, has killed more than 110 people — and likely millions of chickens.
Almost half of the more than 9 billion chickens farmed for meat in the US, known as “broiler” chickens, are raised and slaughtered in the region. Georgia is the nation’s top chicken producer, processing 1.3 billion chickens annually. Over the weekend, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp told reporters that 107 poultry facilities in the state had been “damaged or totally destroyed by the storm.”
Georgia’s Department of Agriculture didn’t respond to questions about the precise number of chickens that perished during Hurricane Helene. But given that poultry companies typically pack anywhere from 20,000 to 52,000 chickens into each barn, which can run as big as nearly twice the length of a football field, an estimated 2.14 million to 5.56 million birds are likely to have died. (The true total could be modestly different, as some birds could’ve survived damages, and some barns could’ve been temporarily empty, as companies clear them out for a few weeks between flocks.)
Some of the nation’s largest poultry companies — including Aviagen, Pilgrim’s Pride and Wayne-Sanderson Farms — suspended operations at their local facilities due to power outages in recent days. A spokesperson for Clemson University’s agriculture program told Vox that while this is a fluid situation and it is still evaluating the hurricane’s damages, 45,000 chickens died at one South Carolina poultry operation due to generator failure.
Virtually all chickens raised for meat in the US are confined in these sprawling warehouses, which bear no resemblance to the small barns of America’s agricultural past. These factory farm operations often have at least several sheds, housing hundreds of thousands of birds on one site at the same time. If enough facilities are compromised during a natural disaster like Hurricane Helene, millions of animals can perish, their last moments likely frightening and painful.
A newsletter analyzing how the meat and dairy industries impact everything around us.Email (required)By submitting your email, you agree to our
Their deaths also threaten the economic health of farmers and the poultry industry. Georgia’s agriculture commissioner, Tyler Harper, has requested immediate federal relief for the state’s agricultural sector.
When hurricanes strike factory farms, they can also flush untold amounts of animal manure into groundwater or rivers and streams, exacerbating the challenges that governments and their residents face in the wake of pounding storms.
Hurricane Helene is the latest — but not the first — striking, high-stakes example of how our factory farming system imposes tremendous cruelty onto animals and also imperils human health. The industry has no reason to change, even after a catastrophe like this, because taxpayers cover much of the economic loss meat companies incur from natural disasters.
Chicken Cat Harvester
FAQ
What chicken farms were destroyed by the hurricane?
Kemp, 107 poultry facilities have been damaged or totally destroyed, 15 dairies have been affected, and many more. Leaving Georgia and other states in dire need of assistance. Some of the companies affected are House of Raeford Farms, Wayne-Sanderson Farms, Pilgrim’s Pride, Butterball, and Claxton Poultry.
How many chickens have been killed by bird flu?
Three years later, highly pathogenic avian influenza has spread to all 50 states. The number of commercial birds that have died or been killed exceeds 166 million and the price of eggs is at an all-time high.
How many chickens are killed a year in the USA?