Sep01
Unwanted Males Killed at Birth
Posted at 01:05 PM | Permalink
| 
Comments (72)
As a PETA blogger, I know that male chicks in the egg industry are simply discarded and killed—but knowing about it didn't make watching it any easier.
This new footage from an undercover investigation by Mercy for Animals shows workers at an Iowa hatchery killing 150,000 newborn male chicks every single day.
Chicks born at hatcheries are sent off to slaughter the very day they take their first breath. The only lives these babies know is one in which they are sorted and handled like pieces of garbage. Workers grab them by their wings, toss them onto conveyor belts, and throw them down a chute to spend their final moments in a grinding machine—in which they are ground up while they are still alive.
All this is standard procedure, widely accepted at commercial hatcheries and within the bounds of animal welfare laws. The egg industry considers male chicks to be useless because they don't lay eggs and can't be raised profitably for meat. Their sisters are not exactly lucky to remain alive.
For anyone who thinks that eating eggs doesn't kill animals, millions of male chicks each year are born in hatcheries and promptly thrown into the blades of giant garbage disposals.
Posted by Heather Drennan
TAGGED:
Comments
I once saw how a hatchery works on Discovery's "How it's Made." They failed to mention what happens to the males.
I also don't appreciate the narrator try to push veganity on me.
Posted by: Edward | September 1, 2009 01:41 PM
Horrible and disturbing!!!! Absolutely no mercy shown to these innocent adorable babies.
Going VEGAN is a moral imperative!
Posted by: AAG | September 1, 2009 02:14 PM
What an outrage! Of course the Discovery Channel isn't going to show such murderous actions! No one sounds like they're "pushing" anyone to be vegan. It's called being aware of just how disgusting the egg industry really is.
Posted by: Amanda Sinor | September 1, 2009 03:22 PM
Nobody is imposing veganity on you. If you're not vegetarian but still claim to be an animal lover, maybe you shouldn't be a peta member in the first place.
Posted by: ankita | September 1, 2009 03:34 PM
This is so wrong in so many ways. How can humanes be so mean.. We need to have mercy on these poor, helpless animals. Wish besides being a vegan there is something i could do. We need laws to make this illegal, if the public only knew. This author is spot on, the females probably have it worse being stuffed in a crate where they cant move, all for what? cheap eggs :( If i were born a chicken or a cow, I would prefer to be slaughter, so i would suffer a miserable life. Dairy cows and egg laying hens are the most hard worked animals alive. Better yet, I wish we lived in a more compassionate world, where we could be more compassionate.
Posted by: Brian | September 1, 2009 03:59 PM
Well, if the Discovery Channel can show decapitated swordfish on "Swords", I'm sure they can TELL where the male chicks go, or at least say that they can't be used. And did you even hear the narrator of the video? "Chicks....Males...No Good...Grinder...Vegan diet." A convincing video to me is one that gives the facts and nothing else. Not one pushing a hippie vegan lifestyle onto people.
Posted by: Edward | September 1, 2009 04:02 PM
Maybe becoming a vegan is not for you... But altleast by from cage free, cruel free distributors . Dont let cruel companies profit.. There are other alternatives for purchase.
Posted by: tray | September 1, 2009 04:02 PM
Years ago, I saw a film someone had made about being a black chick (I don't know whether it was male or female) in a hatchery where they only wanted white hens. I watched this determined little thing struggle to keep up with his fellow victims on a conveyor belt where workers would pick him up and put him in a box off to the side; he kept jumping out of the box and back onto the belt, and I kept yelling, "No! No! No!" as did all of my classmates. The poor baby eventually ended up in a box where all the refuse (eggshells and other unwanted chicks) were being crushed. Sadly I do not remember if he was picked out of the mess and saved or not; what I do remember was the image of this little black chick struggling to the surface of the mess in the crusher again and again in his attempts to get out.
I wish I remembered the name of this film so I could find it and share it. I think it was a student documentary.
Posted by: Rev. Meg Schramm | September 1, 2009 04:20 PM
What can we do to stop this disgusting practice??? How is it legal to grind up baby chics in this day and age? GROSS!
Posted by: Nicole | September 1, 2009 04:31 PM
Two comments: 1. You should stick your veganism up your ...., but that said, 2. isn't grinding living creatures alive illegal? If it's not it should be. So, that's what needs to be done - instead of squawking about vegan this and that.
Posted by: Surprised | September 1, 2009 05:05 PM
WTF?!?! NOT THE CHICKS!! That's the saddest thing ever.
Posted by: alexa | September 1, 2009 05:21 PM
Sick and sad
Posted by: Tasha | September 1, 2009 05:25 PM
There was a Jamie Oliver special on the Chicken and Egg industry. He had the audience sort male and female chicks. After they were sorted he had a man kill the males in a chamber that removed the air. I was shocked.
Posted by: Kris | September 1, 2009 05:51 PM
i couldnt watch much as i couldnt bare it! how awful in this day and age! how can the people who do it sleep at night? i totally disagree with u have to be a veggie to be a memeber of peta whoever wrote that! what crap!i live in rural england where i buy locally organic meat from farms i know they are raised with love and respect and i see no harm in that they are killed humanly and is natural.promoting respect to animal is key to stop this happening and education.
Posted by: sophie | September 1, 2009 05:53 PM
Nicole:
1. You can stick your [presumably] omnivore-ism up your...but that said, 2. If you are not interested in veganism, why are you reading about the cruelties faced by chickens in the egg industry? Grinding chicks is not illegal, primarily because consumers don't care enough, imo. THAT is why we need to squawk about vegan this and that--to let them no we do care and we won't tolerate it.
Posted by: Moriah | September 1, 2009 05:55 PM
people are so sick how could you do that for money I would kill my self if i had to hurt a animal how could anyone put a animal in a grinder sick people and the Gov. should make a stop to this for them letting this go on we can see they don't care and that is the worst
Posted by: Brandi Ohara | September 1, 2009 05:57 PM
It's not about the style of narration - watch it with the sound off if you find commonsense insulting to your, obviously, more highly evolved sense of right and wrong....
Watch the bloody images and if your priorities are still being hampered by the infringement of someone else's sensibilities - f*** off and treat yourself to a KFC.
Posted by: Lisa | September 1, 2009 05:59 PM
Whatever happened to capons?(neutered roosters)
Posted by: Marg Durrance | September 1, 2009 07:07 PM
This is why I only eat free range eggs
Posted by: jagger | September 1, 2009 07:21 PM
I'm veggie but not vegan...after this I am 1 step closer though.
Posted by: Jinx | September 1, 2009 07:25 PM
I am vegan and yes I agree the Narrator does sound like he's pushing the vegan lifestyle. But after watching that, don't you want to not eat eggs and chicken?
Posted by: April | September 1, 2009 07:26 PM
that is so wrong. u know there is a hatchery here where i live in Puerto Rico. the company is called TO-RICO. and i got some friends that work there and i am going to see if i can get a tour of the place to see if this same thing is happening here
Posted by: Walter Rivera | September 1, 2009 07:29 PM
More proof that the human race is unpardonably evil and irreparable. I loathe, despise and abhor the reprobates who massacre chickens and baby chicks.
Posted by: Brien Comerford | September 1, 2009 08:34 PM
Absolutely speechless. The only word I can say is Vegan.. I give it all up. I've been a vegetarian for three years, but this article has pushed me to finally give up eggs and cheese. We can't make these horrible companies feel the pain of those poor chicks.. But we can certainly make them hurt in their wallets.
Posted by: Corey | September 1, 2009 08:41 PM
thank god i'm a vegan. it's disgusting that these lifeforms are able to do this to another living creature! this would surely be illegal if a human was the victim. I see no distinction there at all. I can just see God look down & say "What have I done?" That's what i'm thinking :( You will get justice you poor chicks.
Posted by: Crystal | September 1, 2009 09:16 PM
This is really too sad. What can we do to expose this and stop it from happening?
Posted by: Joanne | September 1, 2009 09:25 PM
This is terrible, it makes me literally sick. How sad, I don't understand how anyone can do this. Wow. I'd love to be alone with these jerks for 20 minutes.
Posted by: Stephanie | September 1, 2009 09:53 PM
I'm not going to be a Vega.But i think that is really wrong and they should be shut down for this..This is what people do to animals on the street and get in trouble for it so i think even if you do work in a factory you should still get in trouble for this and be shut down..I strongly think this.
Posted by: Cassie | September 1, 2009 11:03 PM
I CAN"T BELIVE THE PEOPLE ARE THIS CRUEL!!!!
THEY SHOULD BE LOCKED UP AND PUT AWAY FOR A VERY LONG TIME!!! WHAT IS GOING ON WHY IS NO ONE DOING ANYTHING!!
Posted by: PERLA | September 1, 2009 11:16 PM
This is just sick and wrong. These Chicks dont even get the chance to walk on the earth beneath their feet. They are killed because they cannot produce eggs? I dont know how a male feels about this situation becasue it is a chicken but I am a female and this makes me sick and makes me feel likeif i were a man that i would be killed because i cannot produce a baby. Think about that males. Chickens are like a human being, they live eat and breath the same things we do. Us Vegans need to take a stand for what is right and we need to let these people know that Chickens have a life too. POWER OF A VEGAN
Posted by: Hannah Germann | September 1, 2009 11:59 PM
cant the ASPCA do something about this?i know theyre just chickens but NO living organism should be treated in such a manner!
Posted by: Acuna | September 2, 2009 12:07 AM
Please! Tell us WHO to contact in order to STOP this disgraceful method of killing these tiny, helpless chicks. Whether one is a vegan or not has no bearing on the inhumanity of this situation.
I feel as if our country has regressed. Thank you for any help/insight/advice you can give me as a concerned citizen.
Holly Eckert
Posted by: Holly Eckert | September 2, 2009 12:54 AM
This is horrendous! Gosh, what the hell is wrong with some people? Ugh, disgusting. Being VEGAN is the best thing than can happen to anyone, not only for health but most importantly compassion for animals. SO, The best I can say to others is, go for it. If you don't wanna be vegan, fine. BUT don't come crying to momma when you're a walking fat, sick, limp noodle :)
Posted by: Gina | September 2, 2009 01:54 AM
This is outrageous ! we live in the 21st century for God's sake, you dont have to be a vegetarian to be appalled by such cruelty, it never ceases to amaze my the cruelty that goes hand in hand with the food industry, all in the name of profit, at the end of the day the consumer is to blame for demanding cheap food.
Posted by: Gina Spillane | September 2, 2009 04:01 AM
Unfortunately being vegan isn't going to help. The demand for chicken and eggs is too great, worldwide. Instead of insisting on being vegan, more people should write the your local legislature or start petitions. Nothing will ever get changed if some of us just change our diets, it takes more than that. So, to say, "Go vegan" is great and all but it takes more on a large scale. I too am vegan but I'm active in signing petitions. I challege those that complain about it to make a difference other than what you eat and don't eat.
Posted by: Lauri | September 2, 2009 05:11 AM
I eat eggs from a business in the UK called happy eggs, where nimal welfare standards are very high.
I've just sent them a letter asking where they get their chicks from and what happens to the males, we'll see...
Posted by: Alec | September 2, 2009 05:46 AM
You don't have to be a vegan or vegetarian to be outraged at this practice. I am neither and feel loathing for those who see this as acceptable. I can appreciate those who go vegan and have family members who do, but I do have to laugh at those committed meatless eaters still wearing leather shoes,belts and handbags etc..
Posted by: Rick | September 2, 2009 09:23 AM
This is absolutely disgusting! That is why I have been a vegan for the past three years. Would these farmers do this to their useless sons that are just going to grow up and follow in the same dispicable footsteps?
Posted by: Danielle M. Short | September 2, 2009 09:26 AM
Wow i never knew that this was happening, i knew about animal cruelty ie; dog fighting, slaughter houses,general abuse of home pets, but i had no idea that it goes to this length, since joining peta a few months ago my eyes have really been opened to the levels of cruelty in every animal situation, i didnt know lab workers beat the primates, i didnt know deer was getting their throats cut, i didnt know chickens were being sexually abused and i certainly didnt know about this, i am glad i joined peta because now i am more aware of what i eat and i have become veggie but on the other hand i am suffering regular nightmares about animals being beaten and killed and i do want to come to their rescue and make a change in laws, now i know about this i will not eat another egg (i hardly ate them anyway) but id just like to say (half heartedly) thankyou peta for bringing this to light, it is true when they say u learn something new every day. there are many videos on here i just carnt watch like the slaughter of the mother and baby one and the lab ones because of the bad dreams im suffering since watching previous ones but i can imagine whats going on, so maybe if peta writes a little bit more about what the vids contain then i will have a stronger opinion on the matters without having to watch them,
Posted by: emma | September 2, 2009 09:48 AM
Watching the Male Chick being grinding alive,How would those people feel,If it was them,they should have a adoption program for those chicks,not ended up thier misery lives living in the plant.I used to raised chicks for pets,they are wonderful pets.
Posted by: Walter R Gastiger | September 2, 2009 10:19 AM
I just read this on Fox news as well so at least it is making it into mainstream media. Hopefully MORE people will be P.O. about this. I turned vegetarian last year and slowly making the turn to vegan but this will get me there faster. I had eggs in the fridge and when I opened the door the images came flashing back from the video. This is just sick.
Posted by: Alicia | September 2, 2009 10:26 AM
To those that say Cage-free / Free-range is the answer..
Unfortunately that is a misconception. While Cage-free or Free-range may treat the actual egg laying hens a little better (debatable in most cases..) the male chicks are still an unnecessary part of that industry and are treated no better than the ones in this video.
Posted by: Tom | September 2, 2009 10:56 AM
Cage free or free range eggs are NOT the answer. Those male chicks are still ground up too. You can't have an egg industry without killing male chicks. This is because the type of chicken used for egg laying is a different type than meat chickens. The male chicks have no use for the industry and are therefore killed. No one would make this illegal because there is no alternative in large scale egg farming. You can NOT act morally superior for eating free range/ organic/ cage free eggs. Those chickens are abused just as much as the ones on conventional farms and they suffer tremendously. Plus, they all eventually are murdered. There is NO such thing as "kind" killing. If you wouldn't do something to a dog, why do it to another sentient being like a chicken? You people who are still eating meat or eggs need to do some research. Read websites about veganism, read animal rights books, watch the documentary Earthlings (it's free on Google video). You cannot be a compassionate omnivore. You will still be causing suffering and death, regardless of where you get your meat, eggs, or dairy from. "Happy meat" or "cage free eggs" are not cruelty free. Discover the truth. Do research. Hiding from the truth is only hurting yourself and the animals. You can be a healthy, happy vegan. Vegan food is incredibly healthy and delicious. I have been a vegan for almost 3 years and I love everything that I eat, I've become a great cook, and I'm healthier than ever. Check out goveg.com, vegcooking.com, and tryveg.com.
Posted by: Stephanie | September 2, 2009 11:29 AM
How is this even possible in this day and age! How can anyone have such disrespect for life. How would those people working in that place feel if that at birth one of their kids was thrown in a grinder because it did not meet the standards... Places like that need to be shutdown, the government needs to get involved in this horrible act.
Posted by: Canadian Guy | September 2, 2009 11:50 AM
I miss my cousin's chickens. She had to stop keeping them because of a neighbor who refused to keep his dog fenced. The dog kept getting into my cousin's yard, breaking into the chicken yard and killing the chickens. She can't do anything about the neighbor because this is an area where people who can't get along with anyone else move (Norco, California), and this neighbor loves to cause trouble.
Posted by: Rev. Meg Schramm | September 2, 2009 11:55 AM
I am a proud Vegan Edward!! And no one, I repeat NO one pushed their Vegan life style onto me!! It was for purely ethical reasons and I'm no hippie!! This video only makes me stronger!! Peace.
Posted by: Carla* | September 2, 2009 12:36 PM
Cage-free eggs still get their chicks from hatcheries, so you'd still be supporting the male chicks being ground up alive (or suffocated, or gassed, or slammed into metal plates - pick your violence).
Posted by: jay | September 2, 2009 01:43 PM
Am I being stupid - why aren't these chicks passed to the chicken industry to grow into chickens as food - at least they would have a bit of a life and surely there would be money made by the hatchery instead of this - I am shocked disturbed and not sure I can eat another egg.
Posted by: Debbie Jackson | September 2, 2009 03:29 PM
It really gets under my skin when people call humanity nothing but evil and should be eradicated. If you haven't noticed, you are human as well. Humanity is not perfect. We have terrorism, we have death, and we have people who get paid to grind up chicks. I'm sure that millions of people don't want to see this happen, but it does not help when there is just a bunch of slamming on the human race.
Posted by: Edward | September 2, 2009 06:36 PM
I see no reason to stop eating eggs, but just find someone who can supply you with eggs without cruelty.
I have a friend with a chicken farm, and they care about their chickens and let them roam free range (of course, in a large pin so they don`t wander too far). They raise their chickens and get the unfertilized eggs. They sell eggs to make money, and I get my eggs from them. I know it`s cruelty free and I`m helping to support a friend. I tend not to buy eggs from stores, but still, most of the human population does, and therefore, the cruelty will probably continue untill it`s revealed to the public through the media, and even then it`ll take a while to stop.
Posted by: Glassoniongirl | September 3, 2009 12:54 AM
Do you think they can really STOP this horror?...I hope so....Can't they save the males or resue them? Can they change laws on this..Why isn't it illegal to begin with. I still eat meat and eggs but am against this horror...cruel..please stop them..
Posted by: Kimberly | September 3, 2009 04:18 AM
This and the slaughter or dolphins really turns the day into a nightmare. Something HAS to be done about it, it's not just about becoming vegan, it's about overconsumption, food waste, reversing industrialisation in the food processing involving animals. This is scandalous nobody is doing or trying to do anything in that direction. Things could be achieved if somebody bothered to look into them, take down factories, return animals to the farms and their natural environments, let the animals live, control consumption, size it down!
Posted by: sanjuro | September 3, 2009 12:04 PM
Debbie,
They don't grow as fast or as big as broiler or specifically-bred meat chickens, so they're not "economical" for that purpose. The industry thus deems them disposable and does away with them.
Not eating eggs is the best way to fight back.
Posted by: Mike Quinoa | September 3, 2009 01:02 PM
I don't want to watch the viedo, because it will just make me angery. I'm so sick and tired of people hurting animals. I'm sure these poeple that work in this industry have no heart for the baby chicks. I wonder if they would do that to their children? Please don't write and say that you can not compair the two. To me an animals life is just as important as a human life. I will risk my life for the life of an animal. Anyway this needs to be stopped. We are becoming very barberic in this country. God did not intend for animals to be abused or killed just for the heck of it. So all those that take pleasure in hurting animals you will answer to God some day. GOD HELP US.
Posted by: Teresa | September 3, 2009 04:49 PM
that was horrible!! I can't believe how someone could do that day after day!? I could bearly watch that for four minutes, and they sit there for hours.
I just thank God that I'm a vegan. I'm 13, and I've already got one freind vegan. :)
Posted by: Sydney | September 3, 2009 06:04 PM
This is absolutely horrendous. God help the human race which is capable of these horrors and God help the victims of our abuse.
Posted by: Sue Trayling | September 3, 2009 07:31 PM
We must DEMAND CRUELTY FREE eggs for those who will not give them up & encourage EVERYONE to tell their friends to BOYCOTT all eggs, (unless they know someone who raises them compassionately), if they MUST eat them at all!! Until then, there are alternatives for those who insist on their taste. Let's get Peta to come out with a cruelty-free logo for hens handled compassionately!!!
Posted by: Pam | September 4, 2009 12:35 AM
We had the same sotry here recently in SA. This particualr farmer threw all the males into an old, unused dam and they either suffocated to death or died from thirst. Since then 2 of our major retailers have refused to do business with this particular farmer and made it national news. Yes these retailers will still stock chicken and eggs however not from this idiot in particular.
Posted by: Jessica | September 4, 2009 03:15 AM
thia is for Edward:I also don't appreciate the narrator try to push veganity on me.
No one is trying to push veganity on you---you can think for yourself and make your own decisions, unless you are somehow mentally disabled.
Posted by: virginia gome | September 4, 2009 09:21 AM
I saw the vid copied to HuffPo. I think people should be fully informed of what the complete cost of their food is. Eggs aren't "victimless" even if you can rationalize barns crowed with hens laying as acceptable and humane. If you are appaled and disgusted don't make eggs such a popular food source...these practices are driven by profit alone and deep rationalization. And yah, this should absolutely be illegal. Bottom line, some company is creating the machenery to do this going hand in hand with the hatchery. The complicity runs deep.
Posted by: sasha | September 4, 2009 03:28 PM
This is crazy!! How could someone handle such yellow innocent chicks in such a manner! Killing male chicks alive!!! I wish i could pick everyone up from the industry and throw them in alive and see how they feel!
Posted by: Kelly | September 4, 2009 08:38 PM
HORRIBLE.MUST REMEMBER WE WILL BE TREATED IN THE SAME WAY ACCORDING TO INDIAN SPIRITUAL BOOKS.LET PLEDGE TO BECOME VEG.
Posted by: AMARJEET NAHAL | September 4, 2009 08:59 PM
i cant beleive what this world has now come to. there's just so much cruilty its horrible! these people do not care about theses poor chicks,they shouldnt have they faces covered up, let every one see them so they can be shamed!
Posted by: natalie spencer | September 5, 2009 12:51 PM
I am horrified at the thought of watching this video, So I didnt. Ive seen enough of these horrific videos that I can imagine what is about to be shown. I sit here and cry for God's creatures.I dont understand this. There has to be something done. The ones that do this are not human beings. How would they like being handled this way?
Posted by: gina | September 5, 2009 04:16 PM
this is horrible what can we do to stop this unhumane horrible killing of gods little creatures .. what can we do ... ?? please broadcast to media please ...
Posted by: gaetani | September 5, 2009 10:13 PM
i couldn't imagine that they kill all those cute males :( It's so wrong :(
Posted by: Hanh | September 6, 2009 02:47 AM
I did not see the video because it is not necessary to see more cruelty in order to repudiate it. The killing of animals and more this defendless babies is disgusting and horrible. All living creatures deserve respect and the right to live, and our responsibility as “superior race" is to take care of them and not to be their assassin
Posted by: Evanora Rios-Monroy | September 6, 2009 08:15 AM
What savagery and plain obscene to see these poor defenseless creatures murdered by a very sick and putrid and puke bunch of Convicts -Australian!!!!!!
Posted by: roseann | September 6, 2009 11:58 PM
I am a vegetarian but do eat eggs. I also do dairy. I couldn't bring myself to watch the video. The thought of those babies dying such a horrible death was too much. There would be nothing wrong with dairy/eggs if humans would just show compassion. How do we expect to ever live with each other if we can't be humane to the vulnerable?! When do we start picking and choosing those in the human race that matter more than others? Hitler anyone?!
Posted by: Tammy McKinzie | September 8, 2009 12:20 AM
I am appalled by this! just disgusting. It broke my heart to watch this. Even the tiniest of creatures deserve compassion. I cant beleive the lack of care or compassion for living things that feel pain just like any other creature. Oh also just commenting on Edwards post... I myself am not vegan but I dont think the narrator was pushing viwers to be vegan like Amanda said its awareness
Posted by: Sarah | September 8, 2009 12:25 AM
Nazi death camps were tame compared to what's going on with these defenseless male chicks.
Posted by: Kit | September 19, 2009 07:04 AM
i cant watch the video, but i can imagine how horrible and cruel and wrong it is, i cry every day, its always in my mind of the cruelty, im 35 and i havent eaten meat for 30 years, a desicion i made at just 5 years old after seeing a cow being slaughtered on the tv. i dont eat eggs, or any dairy for just as long. something more has to be done to stop this cruelty, there will always be people that eat eggs and meat, something has to be done to stop this cruelty, why is nothing being done? this has to stop! even if it means finding the factorys myself and blowing them all up, I WILL! this cruelty needs to be stopped immediatley!
Posted by: b | November 12, 2009 02:48 AM