After confirming the presence of highly pathogenic avian flu in a flock of chickens, nearly 48,000 birds were killed at a north Alabama farm, state agriculture officials said.

A Marshall County commercial pullet farm — one that raises chicks from hatching until they are ready to produce eggs when they are moved to a laying barn — was placed under quarantine after samples were confirmed positive for HPAI, the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries announced Friday.

HPAI is highly contagious to birds but considered low risk to humans and the virus is not considered a threat to food safety, the department said.

  • @[email protected]
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    fedilink
    211 months ago

    Yeah…no. not in this case. For one, chicken is way cheaper and quicker to grow than pork or beef, and especially in this particular case, these birds were raised for egg laying. You aren’t lab growing anything anytime soon that you can go buy for 97 cents a dozen.

    • Flying Squid
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      511 months ago

      Where do you live that a dozen eggs cost less than a dollar?

      • @[email protected]
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        fedilink
        111 months ago

        Mid missouri. There’s egg farms right around here so farm to grocery store is like a 30 minute drive. Got a few 18 packs on sale for 99 cents a piece like a month ago.

    • @jeffwM
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      411 months ago

      Not with the way US farm subsidies exist now, you’re right