A distressing video shows the conditions free range chickens were living in at a farm in East Sussex.
Hoads Farm has been suspended after the video was shared on social media. The farm supplies eggs to Morrisons, ASDA, Sainsbury’s and Tesco for around $2.60 for a half dozen.
On the Hoads Farm’s website, the company claims they have “never compromised (their) values.”
The site added: “It is these values for animal welfare, high quality standards and sustainability that underpin how the business is run to this day.”
After the clip was posted on social media, activists immediately stormed the farm wearing protective clothing. They took some of the chickens out and demanded quick action from authorities.
Around 32,000 hens were kept in multi-story rows “at a density of 13 hens per square meter” and the floor was “swimming with rotting egg fluids,” according to DxE.
“Many of the hen’s cloacae, from which their eggs are laid, were visibly infected and raw from forced overproduction,” they went on.
“Hoads has said that they collect their dead birds every day and dispose of them properly but we visited many times over the months and saw the same bodies decomposing.”
RSPCA Assured said in a statement to LADbible: “We are shocked and appalled by this video and understand why people are upset.
“Any allegations of poor welfare issues on RSPCA Assured certified farms are taken extremely seriously, which is why we have suspended the farm whilst we urgently investigate.”
A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said: “The welfare of our animals is extremely important and we are investigating these allegations.”
A spokesperson for Tesco also said: “These are deeply disturbing and unacceptable images. We expect all brands sold at Tesco to uphold high animal welfare standards and will closely review the results of the investigations into this farm.”
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Replaced!