A FARMER who housed his chickens in “squalid” conditions has been banned from keeping poultry.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Trading Standards team found animals with no access to food and water and with bacterial infections on Robert Power’s farm.

Power, from Heath House Nursery, Finstock, near Charlbury, admitted seven offences at Banbury Magistrates’ Court last week.

He was disqualified from keeping poultry for 10 years and ordered to pay costs of £1,120.

The 75-year-old, who has owned the site since 1989, has previously found himself in court for trying to avoid planning rules by installing wheels to his chicken sheds.

The animal health inspector who visited his site said the birds had been allowed to get to a weight that was too heavy for their skeletal development, causing them to lie down on “wet litter”.

Due to the high ammonia content in the litter, the poultry developed sores and pododermatitis – a bacterial infection.

The inspector also said that Power caused “unnecessary suffering” by failing to provide water, which they said may have led to the death of three birds.

Power’s freezer was found to have broken down and “rotting chickens” taken to landfill, despite requiring specific methods of disposal, the county council said.

Councillor Louise Chapman, county council cabinet member for policy coordination, said: “He clearly did not possess the husbandry skills necessary to look after poultry even after being given help and assistance.

“Mr Power betrayed his duty towards his own animals and has been banned from keeping poultry, which I hope sends out a message that causing unnecessary suffering in your care is unacceptable.”

A county council spokesman said following an initial inspection, Power was offered advice on treating his chickens.

He said the council was not aware of any risk to human health from Power’s poultry farm.

Power admitted three offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 for failing to protect the poultry from unnecessary suffering by not providing adequate drinking water on two separate days and not providing them with suitable conditions.

He also admitted breaching requirements for the poultry to be kept on and have access to well-maintained litter or a well-drained area for resting, for failing to keep a record of the poultry leaving the premises and for two offences of failing to dispose of carcasses properly.

Power was unavailable for comment.