Animals in British Farming»Laying Hens
Are male chicks killed in the egg industry?
Yes
Information sourced from UK Government, BBC.
Last reviewed
Male chicks in the egg industry are killed shortly after birth usually in a gas chamber or less frequently by blending alive. Male egg laying chicks are not raised for their flesh because they are a different breed making doing so unprofitable.
Under UK law surplus chicks may be killed for any reason either by gas chamber, blending alive, or snapping the neck. It is not a requirement that they are male, although these are most often the one that are culled.
Male chicks being blended alive
