The owner of a commercial egg farm where horrendous conditions prompted authorities to destroy more than 4000 chickens will not be allowed to own animals for five years, after he was found guilty of serious animal cruelty following an RSPCA inspection last year.

Shaun Stone, 36, was convicted in Picton Local Court on Monday and fined $6500, placed on a 16-month community corrections order and prohibited from purchasing, acquiring, taking possession or custody of any animal for a period of five years, the RSPCA said in a statement.

Footage shot by animal rights advocates inside the Lakesland egg farm shed. Credit:NSW Hen Rescue

The animal welfare organisation launched action against Stone in June 2018 after a complaint led to inspection of his Lakesland farm by police, RSPCA officers, an expert avian veterinarian and Local Land Services district veterinarian. At the property, the inspectors found approximately 4000 live hens and another 1000 hens dead in a shed.

Of the hens still alive, the RSPCA said most were "underweight to emaciated" and half were suffering "a respiratory disease with mucoid discharge from the nares [nostrils] and mouth."