14 March 2024

How well known is chick culling among US consumers?

The lifespan of a male chick on a laying hen hatchery is just only one day. Shocking but true and sadly also a littleknown one among consumers in the US. In an article from Altals Obscura, John Brunnquell, founder and CEO of free-range egg producer Egg Innovations and Robert Yaman of Innovate Animal Ag, point out the differences between the European and US markets. According to a 2023 survey, only 11% of US consumers were aware of the practices of chick culling, even thought around 300 millions of day-old male chicks are culled every year in US. After being informed, 73 % felt that the industry should find solution to end chick culling.