An Illawarra chicken farmer has been banned from buying or possessing animals for five years after being convicted of multiple serious cruelty offences.
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Shaun Robert Stone, 36, was convicted in Picton Local Court this week and fined $6500; half of which is to be paid to RSPCA NSW.
Stone - who owns Albion Park Poultry - was placed on a 16-month community corrections order and prohibited from purchasing, acquiring, and taking possession or custody of any animal for five years.
In June, RSPCA inspectors, police, a Local Land Services (LLS) vet, and an expert avian vet raided Stone's commercial egg farm at Lakesland and identified about 4000 live hens in a shed. About 1000 hens were found dead.
The RSPCA said half the birds had a respiratory disease and most were in underweight to emaciated body condition. All had severe lice infestations and appeared to be hungry and very thirsty.
Twenty birds showing the most severe symptoms were caught and assessed; 12 of them had to be euthanised.
The RSPCA said a post mortem examination of one bird revealed a positive result for Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT), a highly-contagious respiratory disease.
Stone was directed to immediately provide sufficient food, water and veterinary treatment to the 4000 birds, and clean the shed.
RSPCA inspectors visited the property a further nine times over the next 13 days, to monitor compliance with the directions.
The RSPCA said further checks found there were still marked signs of respiratory disease, emaciation, weakness and lice infestations in the flock.
Following LLS advice, Stone later agreed to put the flock down.
According to the RSPCA, Magistrate Ian Cheetham said Stone's decisions "resulted in 4000 euthanised animals".
"People who farm animals intensively need to act in accordance with appropriate welfare standards," the magistrate said.
"You took on these responsibilities and did not meet them. There have been consequences for you, but the sentence needs to reflect community expectation."
Deputy Chief Inspector of RSPCA NSW, Aaron Purcell, said Stone had admitted in a recorded interview that he had attempted to put the chickens into a "forced moult", a controversial practice banned in Europe, in which chickens are restricted from food and water towards the end of their first egg laying phase in a bid to increase egg production in later phases.
Stone asserted this "was common in the industry"; however, Mr Purcell said "failing to provide proper and sufficient food is illegal."
In addition to the Lakelands farm, Mr Purcell said the RSPCA inspected two other establishments managed by Stone, and he received a penalty infringement notice for failure to comply with the regulations relating to cage size and stocking density.
"As a result of that engagement, he destocked all of his properties and as of today he no longer has any birds and is now prohibited from getting any more," Mr Purcell said.
The Mercury contacted Stone for comment.
- with Jenny Noyes
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Andrew Pearson
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
