Two thousand chickens died from a lack of food and water and others were devoured by pigs at a Caithness farm, a court has been told.
Peter Armitage, 41, a former director of Caithness Free Range Eggs Ltd, and 24-year-old former employee Kyle Mackay appeared at Wick Sheriff Court.
The pair were charged with offences that occurred between December 1 2016 and November 13 2017.
Both pled guilty to causing approximately 2,000 adult hens unnecessary suffering.
They admitted to failing to provide them with sufficient food and water, resulting in their deaths.
The free-range eggs enterprise ceased trading when the company, based at Lochquoy Farm in Castletown, was dissolved on August 6 2019.
Armitage, whose address was given as the farm, and Mackay – then of Shellbay, John O’ Groats but now said to be living in Orkney – further pleaded guilty to allowing pigs access to hens.
It resulted in the pigs attacking the hens and killing and consuming a number of them, the court heard.
Mackay pleaded guilty to another charge of failing to provide sufficient food and water to a calf that also died.
Armitage admitted four additional charges, including:
- Failing to keep the premises clean and in good order and in a good state of repair
- Failing to take adequate steps to control pests
- Feeding pigs with eggs and eggshells
- Allowing pigs and chickens to access and consume broken eggs and
- Failing to take reasonable measures to ensure that the needs of the hens were met – namely housing apart from other animals to allow them to exhibit normal behaviour patterns and their need to be protected from suffering and disease.
Both the accused will be sentenced on November 29, when the court will consider background reports and hear a detailed account of the offences.
Online post boasts of conditions
In an online post, the company boasts about “high-quality” products and the conditions their animals are kept in.
“Caithness free range eggs are laid and packed at the very top of Scotland, overlooking the Pentland Firth and the Orkney Islands,” the listing on Yellow Place says.
“Lochquoy Farm (“the house by the loch”) is a 100-acre family farm … and any ground not grazed by the hens or the horses on livery is cut for silage and hay to keep the pastures fresh.
“We have farmed here for nearly 20 years, starting with beef and sheep and, 14 years ago, diversified into free-range egg production. We have 6 sheds that house our 12,000 birds thus offering a high-quality product coupled with a seven-days-a-week delivery service, ensuring our customers receive their eggs as fresh as possible.”
