What caused a 95% animal die-off at a major US farm? Here’s what you need to know
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If you’ve ever cracked open a carton of eggs for breakfast, there’s a good chance you’ve enjoyed the work of Hickman Family Farms.
As one of the largest egg producers in the United States, Hickman’s has been a staple in American kitchens for generations.
But in a shocking turn of events, a deadly flu variant has swept through their Arizona facility, wiping out a staggering 95% of their birds—over 6 million chickens in just two weeks.
A Sudden and Devastating Loss
The trouble began at the end of May, when chickens at Hickman Farms in Buckeye, Arizona, started showing signs of illness. What started as a few sick birds quickly escalated into a full-blown crisis.
Within days, the initial loss of 1.1 million birds ballooned to 6 million—an almost unimaginable blow to the farm and the industry at large. Glenn Hickman, the farm’s CEO, didn’t mince words at a press conference on May 30.
“If our pullets had been vaccinated when we started lobbying the federal government in January, our pullets would have been saved by now,” he said, his frustration palpable.
Hickman has been a vocal advocate for avian flu vaccination, but so far, the US government has only allowed the vaccine to be used for export, not for domestic flocks.
Why Aren’t US Farms Vaccinated?
Here’s where things get complicated. The US actually manufactures an avian flu vaccine, but it’s shipped overseas to countries like those in Europe, where vaccination has helped control outbreaks.
Meanwhile, American farmers are left with little more than hope and biosecurity measures to protect their flocks.
Why the hesitation? The main concern is trade. Some countries ban imports of poultry products from vaccinated flocks, fearing the vaccine could mask the presence of the virus. But as outbreaks like this one show, the cost of inaction can be catastrophic.
In earlier news: State of emergency declared as deadly outbreak hits US farms
Hickman’s website now urges customers to contact their representatives and demand access to the vaccine.
“The quicker we can start vaccinating our nation’s poultry flock, the quicker we can get back to normalized operations,” Hickman insists.
The Ripple Effect: Jobs, Supply, and Community Impact
The fallout from the outbreak is massive. Hickman Farms has halted operations, and hundreds of their 850 employees—many of them contract workers and even inmates—are suddenly out of work.
Some will stay on to help with the lengthy process of cleaning and repopulating the farm, but for most, the future is uncertain.
Rebuilding won’t be quick. Hickman estimates it will take nearly two years to decontaminate and repopulate the farm.
In the meantime, for the first time in 81 years, Hickman Farms can’t meet all its customer demand. That means fewer eggs on store shelves and potentially higher prices for consumers.
But not everyone is mourning the loss. Some local residents, long frustrated by the odors and environmental impact of the massive farm, have expressed relief. In fact, Hickman Farms has faced lawsuits in the past over pollution concerns.
Is Your Food Safe?
With headlines swirling about bird flu, it’s natural to worry about the safety of your food. The good news: According to the Arizona Department of Agriculture and the CDC, eggs from infected chickens have not entered the food supply.
Also read: Are you at risk? The shocking discovery about silent bird flu infections
There have been no signs of illness in humans from this outbreak, and only 70 human cases of bird flu have been reported nationwide in the past 14 months—mostly among people who worked directly with sick birds.
A National Issue: The Bigger Picture
Hickman Farms isn’t alone. Last June 2, the Arizona Department of Agriculture confirmed that another Arizona farm in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area has also been quarantined after showing signs of the virus.
Across the country, avian flu outbreaks have become more frequent and severe, raising tough questions about how we protect our food supply.
Source: 12 News / Youtube.
What’s Next for Hickman Farms—and for Us?
For now, Hickman Farms is focused on the long road to recovery. The process of depopulating, cleaning, and repopulating will take nearly two years.
In the meantime, the company is searching for ways to meet customer needs and keep as many employees as possible on the payroll.
Read next: A $25 reward for getting tested? This state’s bold move to stop bird flu
Have you noticed changes in egg prices or availability in your area? Do you think the US should allow vaccination of poultry flocks? Have you or someone you know been affected by farm closures or job losses? Share your thoughts, experiences, and questions in the comments below!
As one of the largest egg producers in the United States, Hickman’s has been a staple in American kitchens for generations.
But in a shocking turn of events, a deadly flu variant has swept through their Arizona facility, wiping out a staggering 95% of their birds—over 6 million chickens in just two weeks.
A Sudden and Devastating Loss
The trouble began at the end of May, when chickens at Hickman Farms in Buckeye, Arizona, started showing signs of illness. What started as a few sick birds quickly escalated into a full-blown crisis.
Within days, the initial loss of 1.1 million birds ballooned to 6 million—an almost unimaginable blow to the farm and the industry at large. Glenn Hickman, the farm’s CEO, didn’t mince words at a press conference on May 30.
“If our pullets had been vaccinated when we started lobbying the federal government in January, our pullets would have been saved by now,” he said, his frustration palpable.
A deadly flu outbreak has wiped out about 95% of Hickman Farms’ chickens in Arizona, killing 6 million birds and forcing the farm to stop operations. Image source: 12 News / Youtube.
Hickman has been a vocal advocate for avian flu vaccination, but so far, the US government has only allowed the vaccine to be used for export, not for domestic flocks.
Why Aren’t US Farms Vaccinated?
Here’s where things get complicated. The US actually manufactures an avian flu vaccine, but it’s shipped overseas to countries like those in Europe, where vaccination has helped control outbreaks.
Meanwhile, American farmers are left with little more than hope and biosecurity measures to protect their flocks.
Why the hesitation? The main concern is trade. Some countries ban imports of poultry products from vaccinated flocks, fearing the vaccine could mask the presence of the virus. But as outbreaks like this one show, the cost of inaction can be catastrophic.
In earlier news: State of emergency declared as deadly outbreak hits US farms
Hickman’s website now urges customers to contact their representatives and demand access to the vaccine.
“The quicker we can start vaccinating our nation’s poultry flock, the quicker we can get back to normalized operations,” Hickman insists.
The Ripple Effect: Jobs, Supply, and Community Impact
The fallout from the outbreak is massive. Hickman Farms has halted operations, and hundreds of their 850 employees—many of them contract workers and even inmates—are suddenly out of work.
Some will stay on to help with the lengthy process of cleaning and repopulating the farm, but for most, the future is uncertain.
Hickman Farms’ CEO claims the losses were preventable, criticising the US government for only exporting avian flu vaccines instead of allowing local poultry farmers access. Image source: 12 News / Youtube.
Rebuilding won’t be quick. Hickman estimates it will take nearly two years to decontaminate and repopulate the farm.
In the meantime, for the first time in 81 years, Hickman Farms can’t meet all its customer demand. That means fewer eggs on store shelves and potentially higher prices for consumers.
But not everyone is mourning the loss. Some local residents, long frustrated by the odors and environmental impact of the massive farm, have expressed relief. In fact, Hickman Farms has faced lawsuits in the past over pollution concerns.
Is Your Food Safe?
With headlines swirling about bird flu, it’s natural to worry about the safety of your food. The good news: According to the Arizona Department of Agriculture and the CDC, eggs from infected chickens have not entered the food supply.
Also read: Are you at risk? The shocking discovery about silent bird flu infections
There have been no signs of illness in humans from this outbreak, and only 70 human cases of bird flu have been reported nationwide in the past 14 months—mostly among people who worked directly with sick birds.
A National Issue: The Bigger Picture
Hickman Farms isn’t alone. Last June 2, the Arizona Department of Agriculture confirmed that another Arizona farm in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area has also been quarantined after showing signs of the virus.
Across the country, avian flu outbreaks have become more frequent and severe, raising tough questions about how we protect our food supply.
Source: 12 News / Youtube.
What’s Next for Hickman Farms—and for Us?
For now, Hickman Farms is focused on the long road to recovery. The process of depopulating, cleaning, and repopulating will take nearly two years.
In the meantime, the company is searching for ways to meet customer needs and keep as many employees as possible on the payroll.
Read next: A $25 reward for getting tested? This state’s bold move to stop bird flu
Have you noticed changes in egg prices or availability in your area? Do you think the US should allow vaccination of poultry flocks? Have you or someone you know been affected by farm closures or job losses? Share your thoughts, experiences, and questions in the comments below!
