How Hickman’s Farms will dispose of 6 million dead chickens

TONOPAH, Ariz. — A massive bird flu outbreak at Arizona’s largest egg producer has killed millions of chickens, sparking concerns among neighbors about how the company plans to dispose of the carcasses and potential contamination of local drinking water.

Hickman’s Family Farms, the largest egg producer in the Southwest, has lost about 6 million of its chickens in the state due to avian flu, according to company President Glenn Hickman.

“We’ve lost about 95 percent of the chickens we have in the state,” Hickman said. “It will take about 2 years to completely repopulate our farms.”

Before the repopulation process can begin, roughly 6 million chicken carcasses need to be disposed of and the buildings must be disinfected.

Drone footage captured by 12News showed excavators digging large trenches Monday near the chicken houses at the Tonopah facility, close to neighboring homes. Residents who rely on private wells and fear potential groundwater contamination from millions of decomposing birds.

“I’m sorry for the hens, I’m sorry for the loss of the hens but I’m sorry for our community because now we’re dealing with a possible water contamination,” said Linda Butler, a Tonopah resident whose home sits near the farm.

Linda and Mike Butler bought their home a decade before the chicken farm was built. Like other Tonopah residents, they rely on private wells, many drawing from groundwater less than 150 feet below the surface. An RV resort and homes are located between three-quarters of a mile and two miles from the farm.

“These guys just don’t seem to care about the things that they could do to our aquifers here. They are precious,” said Mike Butler.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, improperly managed mass carcass disposal can pose serious risks by releasing biological fluids that may seep into groundwater or affect nearby livestock and wildlife.

State regulators have sent mixed messages about the disposal plans. On Wednesday evening, an Arizona Department of Agriculture spokesperson said the agency had “changed course,” and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality stated that “no chickens will be buried on the property” and would instead go to a landfill.

However, on Thursday morning, the Department of Agriculture reversed its position, saying all birds in Tonopah will be buried on site.

Some neighbors feel they’ve been left in the dark about what the process will look like and who’s making sure it’s done safely. 

“This is exactly what we were afraid was going to happen and what a travesty this is,” said Connie Blayney, a Tonopah resident. “Where are the agencies? Where is the government coming in and checking what they are doing.”

Since 12News began asking questions Tuesday, Hickman’s has refused to discuss how they will dispose of the birds or explain the purpose of the trenches. 

According to the EPA, composting and landfill disposal are the most preferred methods with the least environmental impact. It remains unclear why Hickman’s and the State have concluded burial on site in Tonopah is the best method, since they will not answer specific questions except to say they will follow the law.

The current dispute echoes previous conflicts between Hickman’s and neighbors. When the company built the facility a decade ago using an agricultural exemption, neighbors sued, arguing the operation was an industrial site rather than a farm. The lawsuit cited concerns about stench and flies. 

Both sides eventually settled, with Hickman’s agreeing to take steps to reduce odors and flies. Plaintiffs from that original suit say the current disposal dispute represents their longstanding complaint that such a massive operation should never have been located so close to homes.

Home and business owners in the area are calling for a town hall meeting and open communication from state officials about the disposal plans.

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