A fire killed all 18,000 chickens in a barn at an organic egg farm in the Netherlands on Saturday. Firefighters could not save any of the birds.
The fire broke out at around 3 p.m. on Hondegatweg in Biervliet, in the province of Zeeland. The farm kept the chickens for egg production.
A spokesperson for the Zeeland safety authority confirmed the number of deaths to regional broadcaster Omroep Zeeland. The fire completely destroyed the barn.
Thick black smoke rose from the farm and was visible from far away. Authorities warned nearby residents to close their windows and doors and turn off ventilation systems if smoke reached their homes.
Firefighters arrived with three fire engines and a vehicle with a raised platform. A water tanker also headed to the farm to provide extra water.
As the fire grew, crews worked to stop the flames from reaching a nearby building. At 4:37 p.m., the fire service declared the blaze under control. Two fire engines and a crane stayed at the farm to put out the remaining fire.
The cause of the fire remains unknown.
Barn fires in the Netherlands
Barn fires kill tens of thousands of animals in the Netherlands each year. In 2025, the Dutch Association of Insurers recorded 41 barn fires.
Eleven of these killed more than 60,000 animals, mostly chickens. Fire services say preventing fires and limiting their spread are essential to reducing animal deaths.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: theanimalreader.com
