Farm Animals

Male Chick Culling: The Hidden Welfare Cost of Egg Production

Because male layer-breed chicks cannot lay eggs or grow efficiently for meat, approximately 7 billion male chicks are killed annually worldwide, typically by maceration or gassing within hours of hatching.

Key Facts

Approximately 7 billion male chicks are killed annually as a byproduct of egg production
Maceration (grinding) and gas are the two primary killing methods
In-ovo sexing technology can determine chick sex before hatching, eliminating live culling
Germany mandated in-ovo sexing by 2022, the first country to ban male chick culling
Dual-purpose breeds producing both eggs and meat can eliminate the male chick disposal problem

Welfare Considerations

Regardless of the method used, male chick killing at hatch involves the disposal of living birds that experience the world for hours or days before death. The scale — 7 billion per year — makes this one of the largest animal welfare issues in modern agriculture by total number of animals affected. In-ovo sexing technology makes the elimination of live culling achievable.

What You Can Do

Support eggs certified as coming from farms using in-ovo sexing technology
Advocate for legislative bans on male chick culling in your country
Choose dual-purpose breed eggs as an alternative to standard layer breed production
Reduce egg consumption or use plant-based alternatives
Donate to organizations campaigning for in-ovo sexing adoption globally