Undercover Investigation at Hy-Line Hatchery

mercyforanimals 46 videos
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2,194,036
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mercyforanimals | August 29, 2009

Thrown, dropped, mutilated, and ground-up alive. This is the disturbing reali...

mercyforanimals | August 29, 2009

Thrown, dropped, mutilated, and ground-up alive. This is the disturbing reality faced by hundreds of thousands of chicks each day at the world's largest egg-laying breed hatchery Hy-Line International in Spencer, Iowa.

New hidden camera footage obtained at this facility during a http://www.MercyForAnimals.org undercover investigation gives a disturbing glimpse into the cruel and industrialized reality of modern hatcheries.

The warm, comforting, and protective wings of these newly hatched chicks' mothers have been replaced with massive machines, quickly moving conveyor belts, harsh handling, and distressing noise. These young animals are sorted, discarded, and handled like mere cogs in a machine.

For the nearly 150,000 male chicks who hatch every 24 hours at this Hy-Line facility, their lives begin and end the same day. Grabbed by their fragile wings by workers known as "sexers," who separate males from females, these young animals are callously thrown into chutes and hauled away to their deaths. They are destined to die on day one because they cannot produce eggs and do not grow large or fast enough to be raised profitably for meat. Their lives are cut short when they are dropped into a grinding machine tossed around by a spinning auger before being torn to pieces by a high-pressure macerator.

Over 21 million male chicks meet their fate this way each year at this facility.

For the surviving females, this is the beginning of a life of cruelty and confinement at the hands of the egg industry. Before even leaving the hatchery they will be snapped by their heads into a spinning debeaker a portion of their sensitive beaks removed by a laser. Workers toss and rummage through them before they are placed 100 per crowded box and shipped across the country.

The callous disregard for animal welfare at this facility is not isolated. In fact, the conditions documented during this investigation are completely standard and acceptable within the commercial egg industry. Referred to by Hy-Line corporate leaders as mere "genetic products," these chicks are treated just as they are viewed as inanimate objects, rather than the sentient creatures they are.

Driven by consumer demand, the egg industry will continue to exploit, abuse, and kill day-old animals as long as doing so remains profitable. Empowered consumers can put their ethics on the table by choosing kindness over cruelty at each meal by adopting an animal-friendly vegan diet.

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All Comments (499)

  • 2 hours ago

    This is sick, what a waste of meat, i dont get it " dont grow large or fast enough" who cares let em live

    VicJLo 2 hours ago
  • 2 days ago

    I love meat, but I cannot believe such cruelty happens. Such horror.

    obie666 2 days ago
  • 2 days ago

    This is a sick world we're living in.

    pete34911 2 days ago
  • 3 days ago

    I can't believe that they put an end to these cute chicks ): I couldn't sleep yesterday because I was thing of their lifes that are put to an end when they are are like only a few weeks old... D:

    Buildabearvillebear 3 days ago
  • 6 months ago 38

    Thats just sick!! WTF

    Lordovundead666 6 months ago 38
  • 6 months ago 30

    OMGG ?!

    }":

    This is soo cruel.

    MisssDhee 6 months ago 30
  • 8 months ago 87

    My God...

    aewxD 8 months ago 87
  • 9 months ago 77

    aww poor chicks

    they're so cute =(

    mmBubbleTea 9 months ago 77
  • 9 months ago 79

    Correction:

    Animals do have voices- they scream just like we do. Humans are just don't want to listen.

    Anyone know where I can get a download for this?

    Lyrihl 9 months ago 79
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