A family-run farm in south suburban Matteson was left grappling after a fowl flu outbreak worn out its whole flock.
Kakadoodle Farm is now wanting into how one can get again and operating after shedding its flock of almost 3,000 hens.
Homeowners MariKate and Marty Thomas had been first tipped off final week after they walked into their coop and found that about 30 hens had died with out signs. The couple initially thought that freezing temperatures had been accountable — till the following day, when the variety of deaths tripled.
After speaking to their native veterinarian, the U.S. Division of Agriculture was referred to as in. USDA officers arrived on the farm Friday and later that day confirmed that the birds had fowl flu.
By then, solely about 500 of their hens had been nonetheless alive.
USDA officers advised the couple their flock was doubtless contaminated by wild birds moving into the hen feed.
Kakadoodle Farm is a web-based farmers market that has been delivering natural, chemical-free produce to properties within the space since 2020.
Marty Thomas stated he was conscious of the uptick in fowl flu instances however by no means imagined it could hit their farm.
“Our birds are pasture raised, in order that they stay out within the atmosphere, and this can be a pure consequence of that,” Marty Thomas stated. “Folks often don’t lose the whole lot, however after they’re out within the pure world, it’s form of the environmental tax that you simply pay.”
The flock produced about 2,000 eggs every week for the net market and has resulted in an enormous monetary loss, Marty Thomas stated.
Now the farm is underneath a 150-day quarantine, and the homeowners are searching for assist to maintain their farm operating till they’ll start promoting once more in June.
After the quarantine, the homeowners hope to construct up the flock and assemble a new-and-improved hen coop that can assist defend from any future outbreaks.
“Those who undergo onerous instances, they’ll both ask, ‘Why me?’ or they’ll ask ‘What’s subsequent?’” Marty Thomas stated. “We’re selecting to ask what’s subsequent.”
