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At least 12 poultry houses in Delaware and on Maryland's Eastern Shore collapsed under the weight of snow, said Bill Brown, University of Delaware extension specialist. Feed and propane deliveries were also interrupted by the snowfall, putting chickens at risk of dying from hunger or exposure, he said.
The loss of buildings and chickens can be measured in the millions of dollars, Mr. Brown said, and another snowstorm that arrived on Feb. 9 could make matters worse.
Poultry growers have been urged by Delaware's agriculture secretary to try to get snow off of the roofs of their poultry houses, but Mr. Brown warned that farm workers should not jeopardize their safety to try to save chickens.
