A poultry farmer in Uttar Pradesh has lodged a complaint with authorities after he lost 140 chickens, which he believes died after being exposed to loud music from a nearby wedding procession.
The incident occurred on April 25 during a wedding celebration for the daughter of a local resident, Babban Vishwakarma. As part of the festivities, a procession moved through the village late in the evening, passing close to Sabir Ali’s poultry farm at around 9:30 p.m.
Ali told police that the noise from the procession, particularly the music played at high volume, caused panic among his birds. He said the intensity of the sound frightened the chickens, leading to their sudden deaths.
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Following the complaint, police have begun investigating the wedding’s DJ, identified as Kavi Yadav, to determine whether the sound levels from the equipment exceeded permitted limits.
The farmer maintains that the loss of 140 chickens was directly linked to the disturbance caused by the loud music as the procession passed his farm.
Experts note that excessive noise can have serious effects on animals, including heightened stress, hearing damage, and in extreme cases, death. Animals are particularly sensitive to sudden or prolonged loud sounds, which can trigger severe distress.
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Studies suggest that a large proportion of domestic animals experience anxiety linked to environmental stressors such as noise, changes in surroundings, or isolation. The Humane Slaughter Organisation highlights factors like unfamiliar environments, overcrowding, lack of food or water, and extreme temperatures as additional causes of distress, especially when combined over time.
While pets such as dogs and cats are widely known to react fearfully to loud noises like fireworks, similar reactions can also occur in farm and wild animals under intense conditions.
Authorities have yet to release findings from their investigation into the incident.
