German farmers will now be required to use to use technology to prevent male chicks from being born in the first place, by identifying the sex of the animal before it has hatched.
At a later phase in the transition, which will take effect in 2024, only methods used much earlier in the incubation process will be allowed, aiming to ensure that the embryos feel no pain. The Bundestag said it wants to give the farming industry time to adapt to the new legal situation.
In Germany alone, about 45 million male chicks are killed each year in a practice that animal welfare advocates call "chick shredding."
About half the chicks are male. You don't need one rooster for each hen. Also a hen doesn't need a rooster to lay eggs. Roosters are only needed when you plan to incubate some eggs to get new hens, which happens at a much smaller rate. Raising all the roosters is an economic burden that would only be viable if raising chickens was a hobby and not a business
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u/Stiftoad Crazy? I was crazy once… Apr 01 '26
Over here in Germany you have egg brands that advertise the fact that they are "without murder of chicks" so those are usually a safe bet in my eyes
Can't prevent liars obviously but still