We believe in transparency and want to share how our farms operate, particularly regarding the ethical treatment of our free-range and pasture-raised hens from day one. Our commitment to animal welfare is paramount, and it starts even before the hens arrive at our farms. Understanding where your eggs come from is key to appreciating the process and the choices available to consumers who Are Pete interested in ethical food sources.
Our Hen Sourcing and Early Life
We take responsibility for our hens when they are around 16 weeks old. Before they join us, these future egg-layers are hatched at specialized hatcheries and raised by small family farms in humane pullet houses. These hatcheries are crucial partners, owned by companies that hold the genetic rights to their hen breeds. These breeds are specifically developed for high egg-laying productivity, which is essential for making commercial egg farming affordable for everyone. It’s important to understand that these hens are not bred for meat production; those are entirely different breeds. Developing our own breed of egg-laying hens is beyond our current resources and expertise, so we rely on these specialized hatcheries.
This reliance on hatcheries brings us to a challenging aspect of the egg industry: the issue of male chicks. Once hatched, chicks are sorted by gender. The female chicks are destined to become egg-laying hens and are transported to pullet houses at just one day old. Unfortunately, male chickens of these egg-laying breeds have no role in egg farming. They are not suitable for meat production because they grow too slowly. Furthermore, they cannot be raised with hens, especially in free-range or pasture-raised environments. Roosters are naturally inclined to fight, which would create a stressful and inhumane environment for the hens. Because there’s no viable market for these male chicks, hatcheries make the difficult decision to euthanize them.
Addressing Male Chick Culling and Seeking Alternatives
Hatcheries use methods recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association for euthanasia. We don’t dictate which method they use, and it can vary. However, we acknowledge that none of these practices are ideal, and we wish there was a better solution. Currently, we don’t have access to hatcheries that can supply us with chicks without this practice of male chick culling. For consumers who are pete concerned about these practices, it’s a valid point of consideration.
However, we believe in taking responsibility and driving change rather than simply blaming hatcheries. They are essential to the success of our farming families, so we must share in the responsibility for current industry practices. We are actively working to end male chick culling as part of our commitment to humane treatment from the very beginning of a hen’s life. We have engaged in discussions with leaders at these hatcheries, advocating for an end to this practice.
The hen genetics industry is highly concentrated, with only a few major companies globally, primarily based in Europe. Europe is showing greater political will to address this issue. For example, the German government has announced plans to phase out male chick culling in Germany in the coming years. Germany, the Netherlands, and the European Union are collaborating with hatchery parent companies and investing in university research in Europe. This research is focused on developing in-egg sexing technologies, which are rapidly advancing. We anticipate these technologies will become widely available in the near future. We are in contact with researchers at the University of Leipzig in Germany and Project In Ovo in the Netherlands, who are working on commercializing in-egg sexing techniques. These advancements offer hope for a future where male chick culling is no longer necessary, something we are pete fully supportive of.
Our Commitment to Ethical Progress
While we can’t transform the entire egg industry overnight, we are dedicated to building a sustainable business that is large enough to make a real difference in how laying hens are raised and treated in the U.S. Currently, over 90% of eggs consumed in the U.S. come from hens kept in caged environments, which we consider horrific. We are optimistic that as consumers become more informed and interested in ethical food production, we will see continued progress in the humane and ethical treatment of farm animals throughout their lives. We believe consumers who are pete aware of these issues will drive positive change in the industry.
