Cuddalore, November 6: A mysterious disease has triggered a major crisis among poultry farmers in Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore district, with nearly 50,000 chickens reportedly dying across several villages over the past six days. The outbreak has caused widespread panic among farmers, who are facing huge financial losses just ahead of the Diwali season, traditionally a busy period for the poultry business.
Among the worst affected is Mohan, a poultry farmer who has reportedly lost around 7,000 birds in just one week. He says the outbreak has destroyed a significant portion of his investment and left him struggling to keep his business running.
According to farmers, the deaths have been reported across multiple poultry farms, with affected birds dying in large numbers. Dead chickens are being collected and buried, while large-scale culling is also being carried out in an attempt to prevent the disease from spreading further.
Farmers have described unusual symptoms among the dead birds. They claim that several chickens were found with their legs stretched backwards and wings spread out. However, the exact cause of the deaths remains unknown, raising concerns about the possibility of further losses.
The financial burden on poultry farmers has been particularly severe. A single chick costs around Rs 47-48, while a 50-kg bag of poultry feed costs between Rs 2,500 and Rs 2,600. Electricity expenses alone can range from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000, adding to the operational costs.
Mohan said he had invested between Rs 40 lakh and Rs 50 lakh and described the situation as increasingly difficult to manage. He also claimed that the combined losses across affected farms could amount to 40,000-50,000 birds.
However, district administration officials have estimated the number of dead chickens at approximately 26,000, considerably lower than the figure reported by farmers.
A senior district administration official confirmed that the first laboratory test report had ruled out avian influenza. However, the actual cause of the outbreak has not yet been identified.
The Tamil Nadu government has sent additional samples to a laboratory in Bhopal for further examination. Authorities are awaiting the results to determine the cause and decide on appropriate measures to contain the outbreak.
Farmers have expressed frustration over the lack of immediate relief, saying that repeated appeals to government officials and veterinary doctors have not provided a solution.
With the Diwali season approaching, the crisis has created additional uncertainty for poultry businesses. Farmers fear that further deaths could wipe out their remaining stock and deepen their financial troubles.
For many poultry farmers in Cuddalore, the immediate priority is now to contain the outbreak, protect surviving birds and prevent their livelihoods from collapsing.
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