Hatchery Grounds Chicks Alive, Says Mercy For Animals

Animal welfare group Mercy for Animals has accused an Iowa hatchery of grinding up male chicks alive and other cruel practices it claims are common in the poultry industry.

In a press conference at Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Tuesday, the group showed a video of male chicks falling into shredding machines at the Hy-Line International’s egg hatchery in Spencer. The video was secretly shot from May 20 to June 6 by an undercover investigator paid by the group.

Mercy for Animals also showed other images of chicks hanging by their necks and dying on the floor after being crushed by machines. The group urged groceries to put a warning label on Hy-Line eggs saying “Male chicks are grounded alive by the egg industry.”

Hy-Line has reacted to the video with a statement on Monday saying it is investigating workers violating animal welfare policies.