What do hatcheries do with so many unsold chicks?

[hinkjc]

Also note that a lot of those hatchery auctions on eggbid state "contact us for availability". I contacted one just out of curiosity and they told me they wouldn't be available until next year. Makes you wonder why they even have an auction going..to obtain orders for next year already.

In reference to your question, I have heard lots of stories of what they do with chicks, especially the excess cockerels which no one wants. You probably don't want to know.

Jody

 

[mamato3]

I was at this site just yesterday i think it was call farm sanctuary. It said they throw the extra males in a trashcan alive or trown into a grinder alive. I cant belive hatcherys do this stuff to poor male chicks.

 

[burntumber]

Eep. I guess that's what I figured.

Some horrific end. I raise and kill my own meat birds in as kind a way as I can. But I just couldn't fathom killing hundreds of healthy baby chicks.

And throwing them alive into a grinder??? Ack!

At least some of the hatcheries try to handle the culls mindfully.

Good to know also that some fo the hatcheries that list chicks for sale haven't actually hatched them out, yet. That makes more sense to me.

 

[JennsPeeps]

Sadly, many of them become food for other animals.