February 13, 2023

Fire killed 50,000 hens at Waikato, New Zealand chicken farm

A fire at a chicken farm in Orini, Waikato, New Zealand, has killed 50,000 egg-laying hens.

According to John McKay, the chief executive of Zeagold Nutrition — owner of the farm — the cause of the fire, which happened on February 6, had not been determined.

The company would be "working hard to continue to supply eggs and get back to full capacity as soon as possible," McKay said. "I know New Zealanders will be worried about what this means when eggs are in short supply. The reality is the losses at Orini represent only 1.4% of the layer hen population nationally… so while it's a tragic loss, it won't have a significant impact on egg supply."

Last month, New Zealand supermarket chains told customers to only buy what they need, as a national shortage of eggs continues.

Additionally, Egg Producers Federation executive director Michael Brooks said more than 75% of New Zealand's chicken farmers were impacted due to a ban on battery-caged hens. The ban was announced in 2012 when 84% of all the country's eggs were from battery farms.

The rules came into effect at the turn of 2023.

- NZ Herald