A FREE-RANGE egg brand has come under fire after an animal welfare organisation released footage of what they deem to be cramped, injured and even dead chickens found at multiple farms.

The Happy Egg Co – synonymous with green, tree-filled pastures and healthy chickens – had been heavily criticised by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

However, the egg company said this week that PETA’s allegations are untrue.

PETA said it had nvestigated three Happy Egg Co farms and found countless birds ‘crammed into industrial sheds, with many having missing feathers, open wounds and deformed beaks’.

The video released by PETA also appears to include clips of dead birds being left on the floor of the sheds, with other chickens pecking at them while they are left to rot.

PETA senior campaigns manager, Kate Werner, said: “Happy Egg Co is duping well-intentioned consumers into paying a premium for eggs produced by hens who they are told are ‘happy’, but the chickens we saw face much the same filth, misery, and death as those on any other egg factory farm.

“PETA is urging everyone not to be duped – the only cruelty-free label is vegan.”

Ms Werner said of the egg production industry generally: “When the birds’ worn-out bodies can no longer produce enough eggs to be profitable, they’re sent to slaughter, often to be turned into ‘low-grade’ meat because their flesh is so bruised and battered.”

Hitting back at the claims, a spokesperson for Noble Foods, which owns the Happy Egg Co, said: “Maintaining the highest animal welfare standards is extremely important to us and we took immediate action when we were made aware of the existence of the video by the RSPCA after they were approached by PETA.

“Each of the farms underwent independent, rigorous inspection by the RSPCA and all have been cleared, having the compulsory standards in place.

“We routinely audit farms to ensure that they conform to all UK industry standards and we conducted additional inspections as a result of the video to ensure that the farms were fully compliant.”

They added: “Nothing is more important to us than the safe and proper care of our hens.”

RSPCA explained it immediately suspended the three farms from its Assured Scheme, but after what it described as, rigorous, physical inspections, it could not justify two of the suspensions, and reinstated them the next day.

After a two-week investigation of the third farm, the charity was satisfied it had rectified the issues, and reinstated it.

An RPSCA spokeswoman said: “We are really saddened by some of the footage taken by Peta. There is no excuse for poor welfare.

“While the footage is very upsetting, following our recent visits we can reassure people that the birds on all three farms are being properly cared for to RSPCA welfare standards. However, as an extra precaution, they will be subject to additional unannounced visits over the coming months.

“We firmly believe it’s far better for us to work with producers to mend their ways and improve standards, where possible, than to walk away and risk those animals being farmed in lower conditions.”