Germany leads the way on chick shredding

[Marigold]

Did you know that millions of newly- hatched commercial chicks are shredded alive or suffocated at hatch?
Germany has become the first country to ban this practice, see
http://metro.co.uk/2015/10/24/germany-becomes-the-first-country-to-ban-disturbing-chick-shredding-practice-from-egg-industry-5459759/#ixzz3yvDjHOP3
And there's a YouGov petition about asking the UK to follow suit.
See https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/120638
if you would like to sign.

 

[rick]

Done - thanks Marigold.
When I got my first 3 saw a video of sex link sorting on a production line. Trying to work out what they were. I wondered what happened to the ones going down the chute.

 

[Marigold]

The device to sex chicks as embryos before hatch whikst the eggs are still useable for food, would be wonderful for all of us who like hatching our own, but detest dealing with an overdose of cockerels.
Would lead to job losses among commercial chick sexers, I suppose.

 

[rick]

I must admit, I'm intrigued to know how the device works but Germany have adopted it so it must. A huge breakthrough! It may still be lab work.

 

[chickenfan]

How horrendous that this takes place and wonderful that there may be an alternative.

 

[dinosaw]

Meanwhile in the UK the government plans to wash it's hands of poultry welfare and hand over regulation to the poultry industry.

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/mar/25/government-planning-to-repeal-animal-welfare-codes

 

[chickenfan]

Disgraceful. Will write to MP.

 

[Marigold]

Yet another 'reform' not in the Conservative manifesto.

 

[rick]

Can't help but think the timing of deregulation is convenient. Sexing the eggs before they develop is clearly progressive but it's something you do because it's right, not to be driven by the markets who will always shave the margins and make shredding the 'no brainer', cost effective way to go until the technology saves them money. Yes someone will start a small company selling free range... But I'm struggling to think how you would put 'hens whose brothers were not shredded at birth' on the box, it doesn't have the same ring to it and is a difficult concept. Most people probably don't even think what happens the the cockrels whereas 'free range' is positive and speaks of meadows full of daisies.
This is what government is for, giving a steer when the people can't see the issues - I won't hold my breath!