NEWS: That's a lot of deid chickens!!

Mark McLaughlin
Edinburgh Evening News
October 16, 2009

POLICE are investigating after 136,000 chickens were killed in a mystery break-in at a poultry farm on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

The birds are thought to have suffocated after the air supply to the sheds at the huge facility was shut down.

The motive for the attack on Beechgrove Farm, around two miles west of Balerno, is not known.

The farm's owner, meat-producing giant Vion Food Group, would not say what type of chickens were killed, how they were housed inside the sheds or exactly how much the break-in cost. However, experts have estimated the bill could run up to GBP 400,000.

A police spokesman confirmed an investigation was under way.

"A total of 12 sheds containing live chickens were broken into, and the environmental controls tampered with, causing the deaths of approximately 136,000 chickens.

"Police are appealing for anyone who has any information that can assist their inquiries to come forward."

It is unclear whether the break-in was the work of pranksters, but it is thought unlikely to be connected to animal rights groups.

Ross Minett, campaigns director with Advocates for Animals, said he was not aware of any targeted action against local farms or Vion Food Group as a whole.

Mr Minett said: "This is a dreadful incident and the scale of suffering is simply immense.

"It's hard to imagine why anyone would deliberately cause tens of thousands of birds to die an awful death from overheating and asphyxiation.

"Unfortunately, intensively-grown chickens crowded together in huge factories are terribly vulnerable to any interference with environmental controls, whether deliberately or by accident."

Farming experts said that the size and population of the sheds indicated that they were likely to be broiling chickens - normally packaged for consumption as roast chicken - meaning, depending on their age, they were worth up to GBP 400,000.

Rob Smith, group communications officer at Vion Food Group, said: "I can confirm that on the night of 17-18 August there was a break-in at Beechgrove Farm.

"Nothing was stolen, but the action of the culprits resulted in a high number of bird fatalities.

"A police investigation is presently under way and we are co-operating with their inquiries."

Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn added: "This was either an extremely callous or thoughtless act that has resulted in thousands of animals suffering what must have been a very uncomfortable and slow death filled with pain and fear.

"Whoever is responsible for this clearly showed no consideration for the welfare of the birds.

"Anyone with any information should contact the police."