Villagers Protest Chicken Farm Over Foul Odors; Owner Briefly Collapses

A long-standing chicken farm in Datsun Township, Changhua County, faced a strong protest on Sunday from over 200 villagers demanding an end to the foul odors that have plagued their community for years. The villagers gathered, holding banners and chanting slogans like "Get rid of the stench" and "Chicken manure smell, get out of Jiasi."

Residents described the smell, particularly prevalent during evening meal times, as "eating meals with chicken manure smell," which they say is nauseating and causes respiratory issues for some. They are demanding concrete improvement plans from the farm, which has been operating for about 20 years, or its relocation. This is not the first time villagers have protested; a similar demonstration occurred two years ago with limited success, leading to skepticism about the farm's odor control equipment.

The situation escalated when the farm owner, surnamed Tang, emerged to apologize. Overwhelmed by emotion and stress, he appeared to lose his footing and nearly fainted, requiring him to rest indoors. While he recovered without needing hospitalization, the incident added an unexpected dramatic turn to the protest.

The farm, a legally registered facility housing approximately 58,000 broiler chickens, supplies a major domestic poultry processor. The owner promised to address immediate issues and gradually implement further improvements, including ensuring two odor control systems are continuously operational. Residents can report odors directly, and the farm pledged to respond within an hour. Local officials, including the township mayor and county council members, were present to support the villagers. The Environmental Protection Bureau stated it had conducted five inspections this year without detecting significant odors, but pledged continued monitoring, while the Agriculture Department offered guidance on odor reduction measures.

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eating meals with chicken manure smell