Farmed Animals

Male Chick Culling in Egg Production

Male chicks in egg-laying breeds are killed at hatching since they cannot lay eggs; in-ovo sexing technology offers a welfare-positive alternative.

Key Facts

Over 7 billion male chicks are killed annually worldwide
Maceration and gassing are the predominant killing methods
In-ovo sexing can identify female eggs before hatching
Germany and France have banned conventional male chick culling

Welfare Considerations

Male chicks of laying breeds are killed within hours of hatching because they cannot produce eggs and are not meat breeds. Gassing with CO2 causes distress before unconsciousness. Maceration is rapid but raises public welfare concerns. In-ovo sexing technology can identify the sex of chick embryos before hatching occurs, eliminating the need for culling.

What You Can Do

Support egg producers and retailers committing to in-ovo sexing technology
Advocate for regulatory requirements for in-ovo sexing adoption
Buy eggs from brands committed to eliminating male chick culling
Reduce egg consumption from intensive production systems