New investigation exposes horrible living conditions of 200,000 laying hens in intensive farm in France

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FarmAnimals

New investigation exposes horrible living conditions of 200,000 laying hens in intensive farm in France

30 October 2020
News
A new investigation released by Eurogroup for Animals' French member organisation L214 reveals revolting images on the conditions of an intensive farm of 20,000 laying hens.

The floor is screened and tilted so that the eggs can roll forward and be automatically conveyed to a packing room. The buildings have no windows, the air is unbreathable and the noise is deafening. Add to this the promiscuity and the thick layer of dirt. In some cages, there are dead hens that have not been picked up and are decomposing in the middle of the living ones.

L214 was able to shot these images in an intensive farm of 200,000 laying hens located in Chambly in the Oise. They show the deplorable living conditions of the hens, crammed into cages piled up and lined up as far as the eye can see in huge, closed, filthy buildings. In one of the buildings, thousands of hens do not even benefit from the rudimentary "nests" required by the regulations since 2012.

These 200,000 hens are locked up in these disturbing conditions for over a year - an torturous life which will only end when the hens are brought to the slaughterhouse.

L214 reports the presence of lice on the eggs, despite the massive use of antiparasitic products. Dead mice can also be found throughout the farm. Ironically, on the farm's website, it is written: "We are committed to producing eggs on the farm [...] with respect for nature and animals."

L214 has launched a petition to to the French Minister of Agriculture and the Prefect of Oise to call for the immediate closure of the breeding farm.