Although the generator providing electricity to a North Carolina chicken farm lost power causing up to 60,000 chickens to perish from heat prostration this past September, local authorities have not yet investigated the incident according to reports. The generator was used to power large fans to keep the air temperature low inside the building.
Andy Elmore of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture stated that the chickens most likely died within minutes after fans stopped working.
According to Elmore, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture's jurisdiction in a case such as this is to ensure proper disposal of the dead bodies. Any investigations of cruelty or neglect are not handled by his department.
Ten thousand birds survived the power outage. The dead birds were buried.
Jeff Rivenbark, a reporter with WBTV in Charlotte noted that as of last week the Cleveland County Sheriff's office was not investigating the incident.
