Undercover footage shows the conditions that chickens are kept in at Rowbottom farm (Picture: NTI)

Undercover footage has revealed the appalling conditions chickens live in at a free range egg farm.

The video shows diseased birds crammed next to rotting hen carcasses.

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A year-long investigation into egg farms was carried out by vegetarian charity Viva! and the clip was passed to them by a whistleblower.

Shot in August, the video reveals how hundreds of chickens live in squalid and cramped conditions at Rowbottom farm in Surfleet, Lincs.


Dead birds rot on the floor with their eyes pecked out, while other hens are almost bald.

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Many chickens’ feathers had fallen out (Picture: NTI)

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The farm say the chickens are kept in line with EU regulations (Picture: NTI)

One chicken was unable to stand as a result of what appeared to be a large growth under its stomach.

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Viva! spokesperson Claire Palmer said: ‘The hens at Rowbottom Farm are in a terrible state, some appeared sick and many extremely unhealthy.



‘The sheds were dilapidated, filthy and hygiene standards appeared to be very low. Egg consumers are routinely duped by misleading labelling and packaging by the farming industry, and many believe buying locally means high welfare.

‘Rowbottom Farm illustrates well why this is not the case. In fact, conditions at this farm were among the worst we have seen in our year-long investigation into the British egg industry.

The farm is free range (Picture: NTI)

Carcasses are left rotting in the enclosures (Picture: NTI)

The footage was unearthed in a year-long investigation (Picture: NTI)

‘The intensification of agriculture means that free range now often means industrial free range and Viva! urges people to choose a more compassionate, vegan diet to truly eliminate animal suffering.’

S.A Rowbottom supplies eggs to customers, pubs, restaurants and shops across Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire.

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A spokesman for the farm said they noticed over the summer some birds were suffering feather loss and called in the vet, who separated the flock and gave them medication.

He added: ‘People that buy our eggs can be assured that our eggs are produced to strict government and EU regulation.

‘We have regular visits from government inspectors, and no concern has been expressed at any time.’