POCOMOKE CITY, Md. – A fire broke out at a Perdue Farms research facility, killing 8,000 chicks (revised from 6,000), according to a company spokesperson.

Two buildings burned at the 15-building campus, killing roughly 8,000 chicks that were inside the buildings, said Julie DeYoung, Perdue spokesperson. No employees were on site at the time of the fire. The facility, called Farm 42, conducts research on different breeds, nutrition and feeding programs.

Deputies with the Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating the incident, according to news reports.