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Schools, colleges, nurseries and nursing homes across the UK take part in chick hatching projects every year. However, these projects designed to teach about the life cycle frequently end in misery, portraying animals as disposable resources.
Why choose an alternative to a hatching project? Many educators have expressed concerns that the hatching projects are expensive, that children lose interest quickly, as well as questioning where the birds will go at the end of the project. Cockerels are an unwanted by-product of the egg industry, and as many as 40 million male chicks are legally killed in the UK every year, in gas chambers or by maceration. It is also difficult to provide the optimal environment for chicks in the classroom, as a result, chicks may be born underdeveloped, dehydrated or with deformities. |
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Did you know?
A mother hen will turn each egg individually up to 30 times a day to ensure optimal temperature, positioning, moisture, ventilation and humidity. This cannot be easily replicated in the classroom; the chick's organs often stick to the sides of the egg, resulting in painful and life-threatening deformities.
What happens to the chicks after the egg hatching project?
If the chicks are returned to the egg hatching company after the project is finished and if the company cannot rehome the birds, most of the chicks are culled, especially the boys. Some egg hatching companies may say on their websites that some of the birds may be ‘grown-on’ for the table; they will be slaughtered to be eaten once mature enough.
Hatching projects are also causing problems for animal rescues, such as Lucky Hens, across the UK. Each year we are sent messages from people whose children’s schools have held a hatching project, usually in the run up to Easter. Concerned parents contact us, worried about what will happen to the chicks, especially the boys, if they are returned to the egg hatching project company. We usually are not able to take in chicks as we do not have the resources to look after the number of chicks we get asked to help.
If the chicks are returned to the egg hatching company after the project is finished and if the company cannot rehome the birds, most of the chicks are culled, especially the boys. Some egg hatching companies may say on their websites that some of the birds may be ‘grown-on’ for the table; they will be slaughtered to be eaten once mature enough.
Hatching projects are also causing problems for animal rescues, such as Lucky Hens, across the UK. Each year we are sent messages from people whose children’s schools have held a hatching project, usually in the run up to Easter. Concerned parents contact us, worried about what will happen to the chicks, especially the boys, if they are returned to the egg hatching project company. We usually are not able to take in chicks as we do not have the resources to look after the number of chicks we get asked to help.
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Are there alternatives to egg hatching projects?
Compassion in Education aim to offer an alternative that fulfills and exceeds curriculum needs, without the exploitation of innocent animals. These alternatives include video equipment in next boxes, so that school children can watch wild birds build their nests, lay their eggs and raise their young.
To find out more, or get involved in our alternative education schemes, please contact compassionineducation@protonmail.com
Compassion in Education aim to offer an alternative that fulfills and exceeds curriculum needs, without the exploitation of innocent animals. These alternatives include video equipment in next boxes, so that school children can watch wild birds build their nests, lay their eggs and raise their young.
To find out more, or get involved in our alternative education schemes, please contact compassionineducation@protonmail.com