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A group raiding battery hen farms to free dozens of the animals says it is justified in breaking the law because the farmers' actions are far worse.
Christchurch Open Rescue, one of three open rescue groups carrying out raids around the country, has released photographs from its recent
foray onto a private Canterbury battery farm in which it took 37 hens from their cages.
"In the sheds we took them from, we witnessed half-metre high piles of faeces and feathers left uncleaned, and an apparent complete lack of access to water," said group member Rebecca McCready.
In another raid about two months ago at another farm, it released about 30 of the birds.
Egg producers have condemned the actions of the open rescue groups.
"If people believe that there is a breach of the animal welfare laws then those concerns should be raised with the appropriate regulatory body ... and let the legal process take its course," said executive director of the Egg Producers Federation, Michael Brooks. "The EPF does not support any farmer proven to be in breach of animal welfare laws."
The latest raid on a battery farm follows the prosecution of a Wellington poultry company, and its director Trevor Soon Chin, for keeping birds in a "hellish environment". The company was fined $20,000 for four charges of failing to supply adequate shelter or water and was disqualified from owning or being in charge of birds for 10 years.
Wellington Open Rescue member Mark Eden was due in court yesterday charged with being unlawfully in a building for his role in taking hens from a Foxton battery farm last year.
The open rescue groups are promising to target more battery farms and say they are prepared for the consequences from authorities.
"Obviously it is illegal, but the consequences we'll deal with," said Christchurch Open Rescue spokesman Daniel Rae.
"What [the farmers] are doing is way more illegal. Our view is that is is quite inhumane and in clear breach of the Animal Welfare Act. People are frustrated at the lack of action by the Government."
The group had released the 37 chickens taken from the Canterbury battery farm to new homes.
Ms McCready said: "The chickens are now having dirt baths, eating fresh greenery and will soon be laying eggs for the first time, free from the battery farm conditions where they struggled to even have enough space to turn around."
