LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – A farm northeast of the Las Vegas valley is asking for help after hundreds of chickens were taken after hours on Friday.
Sarah Stallard is the livestock manager at the farm, was in disbelief that nearly 250 chickens were stolen from her property.
“I left around 6:20 and I got a call the next morning saying that all the chickens were gone,” Stallard recalled.
She also added that at first she thought it could have been a wild animal who came in and invaded the coop, but there was no evidence left behind.
“No feathers and no sign of anything, so we ruled out animal predation,” she said. “Anyone who has dealt with coyotes or any type of predator animal taking livestock knows there are usually some signs.”
Stallard told 8 News Now that she believes the thief was someone familiar with the property, who knows how to handle chickens.
Not an easy feat, particularly when you’re dealing with hundreds of them.
So, what could be the reason someone would steal so many? Stallard has her theories.
“The price of eggs has been a thing that everyone is talking about, so maybe someone thought this was a quick way to become a millionaire or something,” she said.
As for the chicken’s well-being, Stallard said that’s a top concern above anything else.
“We fear for their welfare, and we spend a lot of time raising our flock, so to think that someone grabbed them and now we have no idea how they are being cared for or even if they are alive is one of the sadder parts of a theft like this,” she said.
Republic Services, which is located right near their farm, was able to catch what they believed was the thieves’ car entering their property after hours. Las Vegas livestock plans on installing cameras of their own on their property.
Stallard also shared with 8 News Now that the monetary loss adds up to around $5,000. For now, Las Vegas Livestock will order from hatcheries to replace the chickens lost.
