Only female hens can lay eggs. Many of the hens used to produce eggs come from hatcheries that sort and dispose of the male chicks.
© Emiralikokal | Dreamstime.com
One way some dispose of these unwanted chicks is by grinding them alive, a gruesome process known as maceration – this video shows how it’s done [WARNING: graphic footage].
Defenders of animal rights in Switzerland want this practice ended. A parliamentary commission recently voted 13 to 7 in favour of a motion to change the law to include a ban on maceration of chick in Switzerland, according to the newspaper 20 Minutes.
The move follows a petition by Switzerland’s vegan society entitled: chicks are not rubbish.
The petition calls for other changes, including bans on the importation of fur and hunting trophies. However, these were not included in the planned legal changes after commission majorities voted against them.
More on this:
20 Minutes article (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now
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