10,000 Chickens Die After Suspected Break-In at Nova Scotia Poultry Barn!
A Nova Scotia poultry operation in Pine Grove is dealing with a devastating loss after a suspected break-in resulted in the deaths of approximately 10,000 chickens.
According to investigators, the incident occurred at a poultry barn on Naugler Road in Pine Grove, located in Lunenburg County. Police believe an individual entered the facility late on the evening of July 24 and deliberately turned off the barn’s ventilation system, causing indoor temperatures to rise to dangerous levels.
The ventilation equipment is critical for maintaining safe conditions inside commercial poultry barns, particularly during warm weather. Authorities say the loss of airflow led to extreme heat buildup inside part of the building, ultimately killing thousands of birds housed on one level of the facility.
The situation was discovered the following morning when the farm owners arrived at the property. By that time, the damage had already been done. RCMP say the barn's upper level remained ventilated, limiting the impact to the lower section where the chickens died.
Investigators have indicated that nothing appears to have been stolen from the property, leading police to focus on the break-in itself and the actions that caused the mass poultry loss. The incident is being treated as a break-and-enter investigation, and officers are seeking information from anyone who may have seen suspicious activity in the area.
Lunenburg District RCMP are asking residents with surveillance footage, dashcam recordings, or any information related to the incident to come forward. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to identify the person or persons responsible for the incident.
Photo Credit: Mark Stebnicki