Feed store dilemma — poultry protection laws?

[danceswithronin]

The neighboring feed store said there’s no animal negligence laws protecting poultry

This is unfortunately the case in many places with livestock - they are viewed by the law as chattel, and do not share the same animal welfare protections as companion animals and wild animals. Same thing with reptiles and fish, they are not well-protected under the law (or at all) in many places either.