Male chicks in laying hen hatcheries are killed at one day old as they cannot lay eggs, with in-ovo sexing technology offering a welfare alternative by identifying and preventing male egg hatching.
Male chick culling welfare is addressed most comprehensively by in-ovo sexing which prevents birth of male chicks in layer hatcheries entirely. While current killing methods are considered rapid and relatively humane, eliminating the need for killing 7 billion chicks annually is a major welfare advance.