A radical animal rights group is claiming responsibility for the theft of about 100 hens from an egg farm near Spanish Fork, but the farm isn't sure there was a theft at all.

A communique purportedly from The Animal Liberation Front was sent on Tuesday saying that the group broke into a shed at Shepherd's Egg Farm on Nov. 1 and took 102 hens. The communique claimed the birds were held in cruel and inhumane conditions.

The statement said the stolen hens were given veterinary care and placed in new homes where they could live freely.

"They will all live out their full lifespan here instead of being killed when no longer profitable. In other words, these chickens can finally live like chickens," the statement said.

Mitch Head, a spokesman for Shepherd's Egg Farm, said the company adheres to the highest standards regarding the treatment and handling of its hens. Head also said the company is not sure that a burglary even took place.

Shepherd's employees did not notice anything amiss following the alleged Nov. 1 incident, and did not realize they may have been burglarized until contacted by media seeking comment on the ALF's statement.

On its Web site, the ALF posted photographs of its claimed break-in at Shepherd's Egg Farm, but Head said the photos are nondescript and could have been from just about any egg farm in the world. The pictures show hens standing on hay, and one includes a presumed ALF member wearing black mask.

"At this point we can't confirm (the burglary took place) because we don't really have any evidence other than what we've seen on this Web site," Head said. "It's hard to tell one chicken from another."

Shepherd's Egg Farm has about 500,000 hens, and Head said it would be hard to notice if 100 or so were missing. The ALF's statement said that members removed one or two hens from cages that contained several of the birds to give the remaining hens more living space.

Shepherd's Egg Farm is investigating to determine if a burglary actually took place. Head said the company would file a complaint with local law enforcement and the FBI.

"If in fact they have stolen some animals from our property, it would be no different than going into your home and stealing an animal, a pet from your home," Head said.

In 2005, the Department of Homeland Security designated the ALF as a terrorist group. The group has been known to steal animals and damage businesses or organizations that use animals for medical or scientific testing.

• Jeremy Duda can be reached at 344-2561 or jduda@heraldextra.com.