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HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. — As temperatures continue to soar this week, North Carolina poultry farmers are struggling to keep their birds cool.

A Johnston County farm lost thousands of birds this week. When the power went out and the cooling system went down, birds died. North Carolina is one of the top chicken producing states in the nation. During a heat wave like this, even small farms can suffer big losses.

By the time the rooster crowed Wednesday morning, it was getting hot on Roy Sumner's farm.

"It's reaching 85 [degrees]. By 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. it will reach 100,” said Sumner.

Fans, and lots of water keep his birds somewhat cool, but he is nervous when temperatures soar. Sumner heard about what happened on a Johnston County farm this week when a Pilgrim's Pride farm lost about 50,000 chickens in less than an hour.

"In the past 10 to 15 years there hasn't been that major of an impact with the ventilation systems that are out there now. Most people have remodeled their houses now to prevent catastrophic heat loss,” said Bob Ford with the N.C. Poultry Federation.

Colorado-based Pilgrim's Pride Corporation owns the chickens that died in Johnston County. They have not returned phone calls to News 14 Carolina.