So, they're still culling fertilized eggs with males, they just do it before they hatch now. I guess it's a little more visually appealing to the public, but it literally changes nothing. The same number of chickens are still culled, they still get turned into animal feed.
Honestly, what difference does it really make if male chickens are shredded and ground up into feed pre or post hatching? It's the same result in the end.
People almost universally feel that infanticide is wrong.
Abortion for whatever reason is easier for people to stomach.
Basically it's easier for people to feel good about preventing an embryo from turning into a cute little baby than it is for them to immediately kill that cute little baby once it's born.
One part that is different is that a human / mammal embryo is literally inside of another human, putting a strain on the parent's resources and health.
A bird embryo is much more independent, pretty much only needing some heat.
Speaking from personal experience, while an infant may not be inside of you it's definitely still putting a strain on the parents' resources and health.
That's why I'm wondering. I've seen chick shredding videos, and these machines are fast. You can't even see the killing process unless it is in slow motion: chicks just disappear and ground meat falls down the other side.
If the machine is working correctly, I'm not sure the chicks have time to process pain, we are close to the limits of what a nervous system is capable of.
I was just responding the "feel pain" part. The process is certainly unpleasant for the chicks, but here I only focused on pain.
As for culling pre-hatch, I agree with the idea. Not only it is a win for animal welfare, but I believe it may end up being cheaper and more efficient for the farm.
It's a bit less horrific... the line between egg and birth is a clear line between brutalizing an organism capable of feeling pain and one that might not have reached that point (depending on how close to hatching it is).
Yea, it's not completely clear where the actual line is, but it's absolutely clear where it is not. So the claims of this company should be inspected to see if they are closer or further from the real line.
Honestly, what difference does it really make if male chickens are shredded and ground up into feed pre or post hatching? It's the same result in the end.