Millions of chickens and other birds are being put to death in southern California as part of a program to stop the spread of Exotic Newcastle Disease. The birds being killed include chickens in large commercial egg-laying factories, backyard flocks of hens, and chickens, ducks, geese, and emus kept in homes as companion animals.

HFA has received reports that animals are being handled inhumanely during the California depopulation effort, currently being conducted by the US Department of Agriculture and the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Similar reports of abusive and cruel animal treatment were received last summer from individuals participating in a similar bird-killing program in Virginia. An HFA investigator witnessed and videotaped tens of thousands of chickens being killed at one Virginia farm.

The inhumane killing methods include:

• Beating birds to death with baseball bats, ax handles, and sticks.
• Untrained people breaking the necks and cutting the throats of birds.
• Shooting birds more than once.
• Placing birds in plastic bags for gassing.

HFA is investigating these reports and has demanded of state and federal officials that this inappropriate behavior be stopped immediately.