Injured hen lying on ground

2025 Investigation into Lemitech's farm in Teesdale. We found despondent hens inside filthy sheds as well as dozens of dead hens overflowing from a bin where their bodies had been dumped. Some hens were found struggling to breathe or stand in the cramped sheds, while others had bleeding wounds from being pecked by other hens.

In barn laid or cage free systems, hens are kept confined to sheds for their entire lives. Often, tiered metal perches will allow the birds to roost, while nesting boxes are placed on top of metal flooring. In Australia, there are no legal requirements or standards which apply to cage-free or 'barn-laid' egg production systems. This means farmers will often pack as many hens as possible into these sheds to maximise production and account for the enormous number of birds who die from sickness or injury.