700 poultry removed from farm

Police find ducks, chickens living in foul conditions

A duck settled in at the MSPCA's Nevins Farm in Methuen, after it and other poultry were taken from a farm in Mendon. (Mary Schwalm/Associated Press)

Hundreds of chickens and ducks were removed from a Mendon farm after an inspection found they were being raised in an unhealthy environment, police and animal welfare officials said.

Approximately 700 chickens and ducks were removed from the farm Tuesday evening into early yesterday, said Brian Adams, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Another 100 chickens and ducks were found dead on the property, he said.

"Basically, the chickens and ducks were either covered in, or standing in, mud and feces," he said. In some cases, the living ones were standing on the carcasses of animals that had died.

The town's animal inspector noticed the conditions at the farm Monday and gave the farmer 24 hours to rectify the situation. When the inspector and a police officer returned to the farm Tuesday, they observed the problems had not been addressed, police said in a statement. The MSPCA was then notified.

With the permission of the farmer, the MSPCA began removing the animals. The MSPCA is investigating and will decide later whether to pursue animal cruelty charges, Adams said.

He said officials believe the farmer was raising the animals for sale to Boston-area markets and restaurants.

Police Chief Ernest Horn balked at calling the site on Providence Street a "farm."

"I really don't call this a farm. This was just a couple of barns where somebody tried to make a lot of money doing everything the wrong way," he said. "Nothing about it reminded me of a farm."

The rescued animals were taken to an MSPCA facility in Methuen, Adams said, with the last load arriving at around 2 a.m. yesterday.

Officials don't think the deaths of the birds were caused by disease, but the state Bureau of Animal Health has been asked to test them, Adams said.

Michael Ferrucci of Milford, who is listed in town records as the owner of the property, did not immediately return a message seeking comment.