One of the most common questions I get asked is what happens to the male chicks. I love that so many of you take the time to email me questions.
For every female laying hen there is a male chick hatched too, although this can be made somewhat more female to male with temperature control in the hatchery.
It’s horrible to think that there are some breeders in Australia who still use such cruel methods of dealing with male chicks.
I pay extra to make sure my birds come from a humane hatchery.
The hatchery that I get my day-old chicks from is in Queensland. Trevor the owner tells me that he has found a market for about 50% of the male chicks which go to farms where they are then raise up and sold for meat, about 35% go to a local zoo where they are fed to birds of prey and other zoo animals. 15% are humanly put down by the RSPCA.
I also have one or two roosters with my chickens because they help look after the hens by warning them of danger, finding food, regulating their social structure and generally keeping them happier.