Bones and feathers were found surrounding the scorched earth of a bonfire at the farm instead of being taken away for incineration.

The disturbing scene was found after a complaint from a member of the public was made to officials.

The farm in Henley Road, Wargrave, was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £2,000 costs, and a victim surcharge of £120, for failing to store chicken carcasses correctly and failing to dispose of chicken carcasses “in an approved manner”.

Oldfield Poultry Farm Ltd, with head offices in Windsor, admitted two offences under the Animal By-Products Regulations, 2011, when it appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court last week.

A spokesman for West Berkshire Council, that coordinated the prosecution with Wokingham Trading Standards, said company records had shown 1283 chickens died at the farm between January 2012 and June 2013 but no records existed of lawful disposal.

The spokesman said: “At the time of the visit, on 26th June 2013, there were two mounds of incinerated waste that were previously bonfires and in that waste was clear evidence of bones and feathers that were the remains of dead chickens that had been burnt.

“A notice was issued requiring the defendant to dispose of the remaining material lawfully.

“The visit did not reveal any welfare issues on the farm.”

Magistrates were told the company had saved nearly £4,000 in disposal costs by burning the chickens.

“At interview the company confirmed that they were aware of the requirements in terms of disposal of fallen stock but were not aware that the chickens were being burnt on the farm,” said the spokesman,

Guidance issued by Defra states burying, burning or disposal by other means of animals in the open is banned due to the risk of spreading disease through residues in the soil, groundwater or air pollution.