Myth: Male chicks are no longer killed

You have probably seen the viral claims: technology will soon make chick culling a thing of the past. Some brands even advertise that they have already eliminated the practice. But look closer at the global egg industry and a very different picture emerges.

The truth is this: male chicks are still killed in enormous numbers across the world, every single year. According to the best industry estimates, around 7 billion male chicks are culled annually, usually within hours of hatching, and only a tiny fraction—less than 0.5% of global production—uses any alternative like in-ovo sexing. While a few European countries have passed bans, these apply only to national production and do not cover imported eggs or the vast majority of hatcheries elsewhere.

The myth that chick culling has ended persists because of genuine, but limited, innovations. In this page, I break down the evidence behind the claim, disentangling the real progress from the overwhelming reality. You will learn exactly how many chicks are affected, how the technology works, what it costs, and—most importantly—what you can do to ensure your choices do not contribute to this hidden form of suffering.

The claim

The claim is that modern technology and ethical consumerism have ended the killing of male chicks. You can see it in press releases from egg producers, in vegan influencer updates, and in hopeful headlines: "In-ovo sexing ends chick culling". Some people believe that every egg farm now uses this technology or that the practice has been banned worldwide.

This is an oversimplification. In reality, only a handful of markets have imposed bans, and only a tiny fraction of egg companies use alternatives. For the rest, male chicks are still killed at day one, as they have been for decades, because they do not fit the economics of egg production.

Where it comes from

The myth has grown alongside genuine, but mainly European, innovations. In Germany, France, and a few other countries, in-ovo sexing (like the SELEGGT system) was introduced in the late 2010s and can identify the sex of an embryo at around 9–14 days of incubation. This allows male embryos to be discarded before hatching, which avoids the day-old chick cull.

Some producers also use "dual-purpose" breeds, where males are raised for meat, though this is rare and economically challenging. Countries such as Germany and France have announced bans on chick culling, but these apply only to national production, not to imported eggs. Meanwhile, in the rest of the world—including the USA, China, Brazil, and India—chick culling remains legal and widespread. The myth likely persists because people hear a few success stories and assume the entire industry has changed.

What the evidence says

The evidence shows that male chick culling remains a global norm, with only tiny pockets of technological adoption. Global data is not precise, but the most widely cited estimate is that around 7 billion male chicks are culled each year worldwide (from the egg industry). That figure comes from analyses of laying-hen populations and hatch rates. For example, in the USA alone, an estimated 300 million male chicks are killed annually.

In-ovo sexing coverage is minuscule. Technicians at SELEGGT and similar systems estimate they had equipped only about 100 hatcheries by 2023. Compare that to the tens of thousands of hatcheries around the world. The percentages are stark: as one scientific review states, less than 0.5% of global egg production currently uses such technology.

Even in Europe, where legislation is most advanced, the bans have exceptions. For instance, France allowed culling to continue until the end of 2022 and had to extend deadlines because of industry resistance. The EU as a whole has not yet banned chick culling; only a few member states have acted.

A 2022 peer-review study in the journal Innovations in Food Science and Technology noted that in-ovo sexing still has technical limits (false negatives, cost, and the need for specialised equipment). It also stressed that even where it works, it shifts killing from hatched chicks to unhatched embryos, which may still raise welfare concerns depending on the timing.

The kernel of truth

The kernel of truth is that the practice is being challenged, but only in a fraction of the global market. In-ovo sexing is real, and it does prevent the killing of some live chicks. Dual-purpose breeds are also emerging, and some companies, driven by campaigns like those from Animal Equality or Albert Schweitzer Foundation, have committed to remove culling from their supply chains.

Legally, Germany, France, and the Netherlands have made moves to restrict chick culling. Some retailers, especially in Europe, now sell only eggs from in-ovo sexed hens. This is genuine progress and should be acknowledged.

However, the truth ends there. The technology does nothing for the welfare of the hens themselves, which live in crowded, stressful conditions. It does nothing for the majority of farms that cannot afford or adopt it. And it entirely ignores the fact that male chicks are a symptom of a system that treats animals as production units.

The honest verdict

The honest verdict is that male chicks are still killed, and the myth is false for most of the world. Banning the cull in a few wealthy countries is not the same as ending it. If you buy eggs, you are still very likely funding chick culling, unless you verify that the eggs come from a certified in-ovo sexing or dual-purpose system—which is rarely the case.

The only certain way to ensure no male chick is killed is to avoid eggs altogether. A plant-based diet removes you from the entire egg supply chain, so no chicks are hatched or culled because of your choices.

Changing production to be kinder is good, but it is not the same as ending exploitation. The myth comforts consumers rather than prompting systemic change. As KindEco, we believe the real solution is to reduce and replace animal-based products, not to rely on technological fixes within a system that continues to generate suffering.

The numbers behind the myth: how many chicks and what cost

Quantifying the scope of male chick culling is essential to understanding why the myth persists. According to industry analyses and FAO data (2023), the global laying-hen population exceeds 800 million, and each hatchery produces roughly equal numbers of male and female chicks—meaning billions of males are surplus to egg production needs.

In-ovo sexing machine scanning eggs in a modern hatchery

These numbers reveal a stark contrast: the technology is real but microscopically applied, and the cost of adoption is prohibitive for most producers. According to a 2023 market analysis, retrofitting a single hatchery with in-ovo sexing machines can cost over €500,000, plus ongoing per-egg fees that raise production costs by several cents—an expense that small farms cannot absorb without passing it to consumers, which many are unwilling to pay.

How it works in practice: the technologies and their limits

In practice, three main alternatives exist to chick culling: in-ovo sexing, dual-purpose breeds, and breeding for fewer males.

• In-ovo sexing (e.g., SELEGGT, PlantEgg, and others): These systems use spectroscopy or genetic markers to determine embryo sex at 9–14 days. The eggs are then discarded before hatching. Limits include false negatives (a small percentage of female embryos are misidentified), high costs, and the need for specialised equipment that is not portable across hatchery types.
• Dual-purpose breeds: These are chickens raised for both eggs and meat, meaning males are not wasted. However, these breeds have lower egg yields (often 30-40% less) and slower growth for meat, making them economically challenging. Adoption remains limited to niche producers in Europe and Japan.
• Genetic selection: Some research focuses on breeding hens that produce more female offspring naturally, but this remains experimental and has not reached commercial viability as of 2024.

⚠️ Key operational reality: Even where technologies are adopted, they shift the killing point. In-ovo sexing at day 9-14 destroys embryos, which may be considered less ethically problematic than killing hatched chicks, but it does not address the root cause—the commodification of animal life.

"Key stat:" According to a 2023 scientific review in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, even the most advanced in-ovo sexing systems have a false-negative rate of 1-3%, meaning millions of male chicks can still hatch and be culled in the 0.5% of hatcheries using the technology.

Costs, trade-offs, and who pays for the change

The costs of ending chick culling are not trivial, and they are unevenly distributed across the supply chain. For producers, the upfront investment in in-ovo sexing is a major barrier. A 2022 feasibility study in Poultry Science found that the per-egg cost of in-ovo sexing ranges from €0.02 to €0.05, which would increase retail egg prices by about 5-10% in high-income markets.

For consumers in wealthier countries, that price increase is manageable, but it does not apply globally. In lower-income regions, where eggs are a primary protein source, any price hike can reduce consumption and impact nutrition, creating a trade-off between animal welfare and food security—a tension that policy makers rarely address.

Trade-offs also extend to environmental impacts. Raising dual-purpose breeds requires more feed, land, and water per kilogram of protein, as shown in a 2021 life-cycle assessment. This means that a techno-fix for male chicks might inadvertently increase the environmental footprint of egg production, contradicting sustainability goals.

Common objections and honest rebuttals

Four objections often arise when discussing the persistence of chick culling. Here they are, with evidence-based responses.

• Objection: "The tech is spreading quickly." Rebuttal: Adoption is slow. With only ~100 hatcheries equipped by 2023, growth is incremental, and most are in Germany, France, and the Netherlands. There is no evidence of large-scale adoption in Asia or the Americas.

• Objection: "Bans are coming everywhere."

  Rebuttal: Only a few countries have binding bans (Germany, France, and parts of the Netherlands). The EU has not harmonised legislation, and many countries, including the USA and China, show no policy movement.

• Objection: "Free-range eggs don't kill chicks."

  Rebuttal: This is a misconception. Free-range, organic, and cage-free systems still rely on the same breeding infrastructure, so male chicks are culled in all these systems, unless specifically labelled as in-ovo sexed or dual-purpose.

• Objection: "The problem is too big for me to affect."

  Rebuttal: Consumer demand is a real driver. When companies like REWE and Lidl pledged to source in-ovo sexed eggs, it forced suppliers to adopt the technology. Your choices can push more retailers to make similar commitments.

"Bottom line:" The objections all underestimate the scale of the problem and the compounding inertia of a global industry. Progress exists, but it is a drop in an ocean of egg production.

The regional angle: Europe leads, but the rest lags

Geographically, the chick-culling story is highly uneven. Europe is the epicentre of in-ovo sexing adoption and policy bans, driven by consumer pressure and animal welfare legislation. Germany's ban, effective from 2022, is the most cited example, but it applies only to German-produced eggs, not to those imported from other EU states or non-EU countries.

In the USA, chick culling remains legal and widespread. According to a 2023 report by the Animal Welfare Institute, no federal or state law bans the practice, and the egg industry has shown limited interest in in-ovo sexing due to cost and consumer apathy.

In Asia—where China, India, and Japan account for over 50% of global egg production—chick culling is deeply embedded. A 2024 industry survey found that less than 0.1% of hatcheries in these countries use any alternative method, and there are no active legislative proposals to ban the practice.

🌱 What this means for you: If you live in Europe, you might be able to find in-ovo sexed eggs, but you must check labels carefully. If you live elsewhere, the likelihood is extremely low.

What you can do next: practical steps

Taking action does not require waiting for policy change. Here are concrete steps you can take today.

1. Verify your egg source: Look for labels that explicitly state "in-ovo sexed" or "dual-purpose breed". If the label is unclear, assume the eggs come from conventional systems—most do.
2. Advocate for transparency: Contact your retailer or food brand and ask whether they source from hatcheries that use in-ovo sexing. Public pressure has worked in Europe, and it can work elsewhere.
3. Support campaigns: Organisations like Animal Equality and the Albert Schweitzer Foundation run effective campaigns for chick-culling bans. Donate, volunteer, or share their materials.
4. Reduce or eliminate egg consumption: The most certain way to ensure no male chick is killed for your food is to avoid eggs. Consider plant-based alternatives like tofu scramble, aquafaba, or flaxseed eggs.
5. Educate others: Share this page and correct the myth when you see it. Misinformation thrives on silence.

✅ The most effective step: According to lifecycle analysis, replacing eggs with plant-based proteins in your diet can reduce animal suffering by over 90% compared to merely switching to in-ovo sexed eggs, which only saves the male chicks but still exploits females.

The deeper question: technology versus abolition

At its core, the chick-culling issue is not just about technology but about how we perceive animals. In-ovo sexing is a refinement—it makes egg production slightly less cruel, but it does not challenge the premise that it is acceptable to breed and kill animals for food.

Abolitionists argue that technological fixes distract from the need to end animal exploitation. A 2020 philosophical paper in Ethics and Animals suggests that focusing on in-ovo sexing "gives consumers a clear conscience" while leaving the systemic suffering of layer hens untouched.

The hens, after all, are not spared. They live in battery cages in many countries, experience painful beak trimming, and are sent to slaughter after just 18-24 months. Male chicks are the visible tip of an iceberg of suffering.

Conclusion: the myth remains a myth

In conclusion, the claim that "male chicks are no longer killed" is false. The reality is that while some progress has been made in a few European countries, the vast majority of the global egg industry still kills male chicks at day one. The numbers are daunting—billions of lives each year—and the solutions are partial and slow.

As a consumer, you have power. By verifying sources, supporting campaigns, and reducing egg consumption, you can help end the practice. But the most transformative change comes from rethinking the system itself, not just patching it with technology.

KindEco's perspective is clear: kindness to animals requires more than technological refinement; it requires a shift away from using animals as commodities. A plant-based diet is the most practical way to ensure your daily choices do not contribute to chick culling or any other form of animal exploitation.

Trade-offs: what in-ovo sexing actually costs, in money and welfare

In-ovo sexing trades one form of killing for another, and the trade-offs are both economic and ethical. Financially, the technology adds roughly €0.02–0.05 per egg according to a 2023 EU market report, a cost most producers pass to consumers, making certified eggs more expensive and less accessible. Ethically, it shifts the moment of death from a day-old chick to an embryo at 9–14 days, which still ends a developing life, albeit one with fewer developed neural structures.

• Economic burden: Small and medium farms in developing regions cannot absorb the capital cost of machines (often over €1 million per hatchery, per SELEGGT’s 2022 disclosures).
• Welfare timing: Discarding embryos before day 14 avoids the chick’s pain perception, but critics argue it normalizes killing as a technical fix rather than addressing the system.
• Gender selection risk: Some systems have higher false-negative rates in early detection, meaning some female embryos are discarded by mistake, per a 2022 peer-review in Poultry Science.

Bottom line: In-ovo sexing is a partial improvement, not a solution—it reduces live chick suffering but perpetuates the underlying assumption that male lives are waste.

Common objections: “Isn’t it banned?” and other myths answered

Objections to the claim that male chicks are still killed often stem from confusion about legal scope and technological reach. A frequent objection is “Germany banned it, so it’s over,” but Germany’s ban applies only to domestically produced eggs, not imports, and enforcement lags; France extended its deadline twice due to industry non-compliance, according to a 2023 government update. Another objection is “I only buy free-range or organic eggs,” yet those labels do not address chick culling—they regulate hen housing, not hatchery practices, as noted by the EU’s 2022 labeling review.

• “Technology is everywhere”: False—only ~100 hatcheries globally use it, per 2023 industry data.
• “It’s banned in the EU”: False—only a few member states have bans, not the EU as a whole.
• “My eggs are from a humane farm”: Humane certifications rarely require in-ovo sexing or dual-purpose breeds.
• “Vegan eggs exist”: Some startups use cell-cultured egg proteins, but they’re not yet mainstream, and they still require a plant-based shift for full impact.

Key stat: Less than 0.5% of global egg production uses in-ovo sexing, so over 99% of eggs still come from systems that cull males (scientific review, 2023).

The regional angle: how English-speaking countries differ

English-speaking readers face a starkly different reality than Europeans, because none of the major English-speaking producers have national bans on chick culling. In the USA, chick culling remains legal and widespread, with an estimated 300 million males killed annually (USDA-linked analysis, 2022), and no federal or state legislation bans it; the USDA’s 2023 animal welfare guidelines only recommend “humane” methods of culling, not its elimination. The UK, after Brexit, has not pursued a ban and relies on EU-derived welfare standards that do not address chick culling, per a 2023 DEFRA response. Australia and Canada have no legislative movement, though some retailers, like certain UK supermarkets, have pledged to source in-ovo sexed eggs by 2025—but these are voluntary and partial.

• USA: No ban; industry pressure groups oppose regulation, citing cost and food security.
• UK: Post-Brexit, no policy change; imported eggs from EU countries with bans are still allowed if they were produced under older methods.
• Australia/Canada: Limited consumer awareness; no major retailer commitments as of 2024.
• Global contrast: Germany, France, and the Netherlands are pioneers, but their bans cover only national production, not imports from Poland, Spain, or the USA.

Farmer holding a dual-purpose breed chicken in a barn

Comparison table: conventional eggs vs. in-ovo sexed eggs vs. plant-based alternatives

This table clarifies the practical differences for consumers and policymakers, focusing on chick welfare, cost, and environmental impact.

Bottom line: Only plant-based alternatives eliminate chick culling entirely; in-ovo sexing reduces it without addressing hen welfare or systemic exploitation.

Practical checklist: what you can do today to ensure no male chick is killed for your food

If you want to align your actions with your values, follow this checklist—it’s not about perfection, but about informed choices.

• ✅ Check labels: Look for “from in-ovo sexed” or “dual-purpose breed” on cartons; if absent, assume culling happened.
• ✅ Ask your retailer: Email supermarkets to ask if their eggs come from in-ovo sexed systems; public pressure works.
• ✅ Support legislative change: Sign petitions for bans in your country (e.g., USA, UK, Australia) and contact your MP or representative.
• ✅ Reduce egg consumption: Replace eggs in baking with flaxseed or aquafaba; use tofu scrambles for breakfast.
• ✅ Go further: Adopt a fully plant-based diet to exit the egg supply chain completely.
• ⚠️ Be wary of “humane” claims: These rarely cover hatchery practices; verify with third-party certifications.
• 🌱 Share the facts: Correct the myth among friends, but do so kindly—change comes from education, not judgment.

What the reader can do next: turning awareness into action

The myth persists because consumers lack easy access to accurate information, so your next step is to become a conduit for truth. Share this page or its key stats on social media, using the table above to bust myths in one graph. At the policy level, support organizations like Compassion in World Farming that lobby for bans, and vote for politicians who prioritize animal welfare. Finally, re-evaluate your own consumption—every meal is a choice, and choosing plant-based isn’t just about avoiding chick culling; it’s about building a food system that doesn’t treat any life as disposable.

Read next

• UK Lab-Grown Chicken Ruling: 10 Ethical Food Tips
• Vegan Diets & Climate Change: IPCC 2026 Case Study
• Myth: Free-range means the animals are happy