Sick undercover video 'shows worker at Walmart supplier twisting hen's head off'

Deeply distressing video showing chickens having their necks wrung as they flap in terror has been released by animal activists.

US supermarket giant Walmart has said it will investigate after undercover cameras allegedly showed how hens are killed at a farm in its supply chain.

In one instance, a worker is seen twisting an animal's head until it comes off.

It is among a string of allegations made by campaign group Peta after sending an undercover investigator to the egg farm in Licking County, Ohio.

Activists said that hens were seen cooped in cages alongside dead and decomposing animals.

In some instances, Peta claims workers failed to kill hens, leaving them suffering for hours - and even days.

The distressing footage was taken at an egg farm in Ohio, Peta said (Peta)

The investigator was sent to the farm, operated by Trillium Farm Holdings, following claims about conditions by two whistleblowers, Peta said.

In a statement the animal rights organisation said: "A farm supervisor tried but failed to kill one hen, and she was later found alive in a trash bin, severely injured.

"PETA’s investigator immediately notified the supervisor, but she left the hen to languish. Two days later, the investigator found that the hen was still languishing, so a worker tried to break her neck."

More than two million chickens are kept at the farm, Peta claims (Peta)

Walmart said it is investigating after the footage came to light (Peta)

And the harrowing testimony continued: "Another hen was stuck between a feed trough and a conveyor belt.

"The investigator extricated her and tried to comfort her. A worker then attempted to kill her by twisting and pulling on her head over and over again before finally just dropping her on the floor while she was still alive.

"Workers killed many more chickens in this terrifying, agonizing way—which is neither instantaneous nor painless. One worker even ripped a live hen’s head off."

In a statement Walmart said it would investigate.

The clip shows hens being killed by workers (Peta)

A spokesman said: "We do not tolerate animal abuse of any kind and expect all farm animals in our supply chain to be treated humanely throughout their lives.

"We believe that the welfare of farm animals should be considered in selection of all production systems, practices and technologies.

"We take these allegations seriously and will conduct a thorough review and take corrective action as appropriate."

Mirror Online has contacted Trillium Farm Holdings for comment.