Bozrah fire that killed 100,000 hens remains under investigation

Greg Smith, The Day, New London, Conn.
·1 min read

Feb. 1—BOZRAH — State agriculture officials say the death of an estimated 100,000 egg-laying hens in a Saturday fire at an egg farm here is not likely to lead to higher egg prices.

There are more than 373 million egg-laying hens in the United States, according to a USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service report from January.

"The anticipated potential impact on egg prices due to this incident is minimal to none at this time," the Connecticut Department of Agriculture said in a statement.

The fire occurred Saturday and destroyed a chicken house at Hillendale Farms at 17 Schwartz Road. Bozrah Fire Marshal Thomas Main Jr. said the cause of the fire remains under investigation by his office and state fire marshal's office. He estimates the size of the chicken coop to be 500 feet long and at least 50 feet wide.

Pennsylvania-based Hillendale Farms said it raises 20 million chickens in multiple states and is one of the top five egg producers in the country.