The First Ordeal of Broilers: The Hatchery

It is a well-known fact that male chicks from egg-laying hens are killed on the day of birth, but few people know that chickens raised for meat are similarly sorted on their first day, and “substandard” chicks are being killed on a daily basis.

Chicks that are weak, have congenital shape anomalies such as too many legs, are too small, inflamed or dirty are considered “substandard.” Since about two out of every 100 chicks are killed, it is estimated that about 14 million birds (8 to 16 million birds) are killed immediately after birth in Japan each year.

The most common way to kill chicks in the country is to place them in bags while they are still alive. That is, they are killed slowly over a long length of time by being crushed to death or suffocated. They are sometimes left outdoors, or put in a refrigerator until a waste disposal company arrives to pick them up, so there is a possibility that some are frozen to death. The chicks are placed one on top of the other as they continue to squirm and chirp, gradually being crushed out of sight. It is indeed a scene from hell.

The video below taken in Japan captures this very scene. Each of the chicks, discarded like garbage, has senses, pain, fear, and individuality just like us. But their suffering continues to be overlooked due to their small size, sheer numbers, or whatever the reason may be.

Of course, this tragedy continues, and the chicks that survive face the next severe ordeal. Learn about the 50-day life of a broiler here: https://50days.jp/