Like all areas of animal food production, the egg industry is a complex one, and there are some ethical issues at play. Let’s take a closer look at a few of these ethical dilemmas.
The way eggs are produced – just like other animal food systems – has some issues attached. Let’s have a look at a few of them.
What happens to the male chicks?
One of the biggest ethical dilemmas in the egg industry - and one you might not have thought about much - is what to do with male chicks.
Since male chicks are not able to lay eggs, they are seen as useless by the egg industry. As a result, male chicks are often killed shortly after hatching. There are a few ways that this is typically done: by gassing, suffocation, or being ground up alive in a process known as "maceration". This is obviously a controversial practice, and many people feel it is morally wrong.
Some in the industry argue that there is no other way to deal with male chicks, as they are not economically viable. Others say there are alternatives. Some farmers are beginning to raise male chicks for meat. Others are experimenting with sexing eggs before they hatch, so that only female chicks are hatched. While these solutions may not be perfect, they do offer hope for a more ethical solution to this problem.
How do the hens live?
Another potential issue is the conditions in which hens are kept. Depending on the country and the particular rules that apply, hens might be kept in cramped, crowded conditions in factory farms. These conditions can lead to health problems, stress, and decreased quality of life for the animals. Some hens are kept in battery cages, which are small wire cages that allow very little movement. Many regions have now phased these out, or regulated against them (see Navigating the Spectrum article) but it can pay to check the situation in your own country.
Another system is where hens are kept in larger cages, known as enriched or colony cages, which offer more space and amenities like perches and nesting boxes. However, even enriched cages have been criticised for not providing enough space for the hens to move around and exhibit natural behaviours.
In free-range and organic systems, hens are likely to have more space and more comfortable conditions. Again, rules vary depending on where you are in the world.
What about antibiotics?
Another ethical issue in the egg industry is the use of antibiotics and other drugs. Conventional egg farms use antibiotics to prevent disease and increase productivity. This can lead to antibiotic resistance in the birds, and in the wider environment. Some drugs that are used in the egg industry are also considered to be harmful to humans.
It’s a myth, though still widely believed, that hormones are used in egg production. These have actually been banned for decades in the USA, Europe, New Zealand and other countries. So that’s one thing we don’t have to worry about.
How can we be more ethical with our eggs?
If the above issues worry you, you might want to choose eggs produced in free-range or cage-free environments, though you might need to ask some questions to find out which producers are following more ethical practices. Check out the producers’ websites or packaging to find out more, and use your consumer power to ask specific questions on the issues that concern you.
Choosing eggs from hens that are raised alternative systems like mobile coops or pasture-based systems will probably be more expensive than conventionally raised eggs, but they do potentially offer a more ethical, sustainable and humane alternative.
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