Conn. coop collapses under snow, killing 85,000 hens

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Connecticut agriculture officials say the collapse of a farm building because of heavy snow has killed 85,000 egg-laying hens.

Department of Agriculture Commissioner Steven Reviczky (reh-VIS-kee') said Thursday the chicken coop collapsed Jan. 27 at the Kofkoff Egg Farm in Bozrah, a small town southeast of Hartford. He says the number of hens killed was reported to the state recently. He says the dead birds were incinerated.

Farm representative Ken Pauze (paw-ZAY') confirms the hens died but won't comment further.

The state says back-to-back snowstorms and a recent ice storm have brought down the roofs of more than 130 barns, greenhouses, equipment buildings and other farm buildings. More than a dozen dairy cows, two horses and a calf have been killed in building collapses.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.