One in three supermarket chickens suffer skin burns from being kept in their own excrement, shocking report claims

ONE in three supermarket chickens suffer skin burns from standing in their own filth, a shocking new investigation has claimed.

The RSPCA warned there are worrying levels of "hock burn" caused by the ammonia found in the fowl's faeces.

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Animal welfare investgators from the AF News Agency say 37% of 215 Marks and Spencer Oakham chickens and 35% of Sainsbury's own brand birds inspected had the condition.

However many chains sell the birds with the lower leg removed making inspecting them impossible.

Critics suggest that this means the issue could be even more widespread.

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RSPCA Head of Farm Animals Dr Marc Cooper told : “Hock burn is a widespread problem in meat chickens.

"It is primarily caused by prolonged contact with wet litter, the material covering the floor.

"There are many factors that contribute to poor litter, such as overcrowding.

"Ideally, there should be no hock burn.

“Previous research has shown a worrying level of hock burn among standard chickens and indicates the level is much higher when birds are poorly managed.”

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He said that mandatory checks should be carried out on all chickens and birds to help prevent the condition.

A spokesman for M&S said: “Hock-marking is a challenge for all retailers and we work closely with our farms to reduce it.”

Sainsbury’s said: “Suppliers are expected to comply with our code of practice and meet the high welfare standards our customers would expect.”

Meanwhile PETA discovered thousands of broiler chickens being reared for meat housed in windowless sheds in Norfolk.

It is not known who the birds, packed in so tight they can hardly move, are supplied to.

PETA Foundation director Elisa Allen said: “The suffering exposed is not the exception, it is almost certainly the rule.”