Poultry farm director sentenced after thousands of chickens left to suffer near Louth
Serious welfare failings found at a farm in Fulstow during a string of inspections
A poultry farm director has been sentenced after admitting causing unnecessary suffering to thousands of chickens at a farm in Lincolnshire.
Noreen Ahmed, 44, of Bridge Lane, Fulstow, pleaded guilty to two offences of causing unnecessary suffering to protected animals.
The 44-year-old was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on 20th August 2026.
She was handed a 27-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to pay £6,807.98 in costs.
She was also banned from owning, keeping, dealing and transporting poultry for three years.
What inspectors found
The case followed a series of inspections carried out between January and March 2025 at Low Farm, near Louth.
They were carried out by Lincolnshire County Council Trading Standards officers and veterinary inspectors from the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
Around 83,000 broiler chickens, which are raised specifically for meat, were housed across four sheds at the farm.
Inspectors repeatedly identified significant welfare concerns, including wet and dirty bedding, poor environmental conditions, water entering the sheds, inadequate management practices and a failure to remove unwell and undersized birds.
Veterinary evidence from farm visits and checks at slaughterhouses revealed high levels of pododermatitis, a painful condition that causes lesions and ulcers on birds' feet.
Vets concluded the conditions caused unnecessary pain and suffering to the chickens.
'Deliberate failure to act'
The court heard concerns had been raised with the farm on a number of occasions before the offences, and improvement measures had previously been required.
Despite this, serious welfare issues continued to be identified during later inspections.
Sentencing, Mrs Recorder S Jenkins found prolonged and repeated neglect and a lack of compliance with training.
She told Ahmed she had shown a "deliberate failure to act upon the recommendations and advice she was being provided with."
Council response
Cllr Alex McGonigle, executive councillor for community safety at Lincolnshire County Council, said:
"Lincolnshire is renowned for its rich agricultural heritage and while the vast majority of farmers work hard to maintain high standards of animal welfare, the conditions at Low Farm fell unacceptably short."
"Whilst our preference is always to work with farmers to improve standards, in this case our repeated advice and support went unheeded, and with serious welfare concerns continuing, we had to prosecute."
"I hope this sentencing sends a clear message that where standards are inadequate, we will take decisive action to protect the health of livestock and prevent further unnecessary suffering."
Anyone with concerns about animals being mistreated in Lincolnshire can report it to Lincolnshire Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.