Tens of thousands of ducks and geese had to be put down after the bird flu crept into a hatchery in Monterey County. “This is the worst,” said John Metzer, the owner of Metzer Farms in Gonzales.

Tens of thousands of ducks and geese had to be put down after the bird flu crept into a hatchery in Monterey County. “This is the worst,” said John Metzer, owner of Metzer Farms in Gonzales.

More than 13,000 birds were put down, and 90,000 eggs were destroyed at the farm. Four jobs are now on the line and it could be weeks before Metzer can repopulate his hatchery. “Losing potential ...