By Sandra Vijn
I try to be a down to earth, open, and honest poultry farmer. Even when it becomes inconvenient. So, let's just talk about this. It’s a common thing to shred the brothers of laying hens as soon as they hatch.
A rooster is born
In the US this involves about 260 million chicks annually. That adds up to 10 chicks shredded every second. Organic or free-range, pasture-raised, or cage-free, for every laying hen a rooster is born. This is basic reproductive math. Yet, these roosters are considered worthless since – surprise, surprise – they can’t lay eggs. Meanwhile they have too little meat on their bones to compete with meat chickens.
Useful function
No cockerels are shredded for Kipster eggs. They grow up according to the standards of Certified Humane. We give these animals a useful function in our food system. As a result, fewer chickens need to be killed for our meat consumption since one pound of this cockerel meat can replace a pound of meat from the broiler meat industry.
More ethical
Allowing laying roosters to grow up is inefficient and costly compared to broiler chickens who are genetically bred to put on a lot of weight in as little time as possible. The typical slaughter age of a broiler chicken is 47 days. Our roosters live up to 100 days. They eat relatively more feed compared to how much weight they put on. But while it’s more expensive, it is more ethical in our eyes. We find it difficult to digest that the life of our roosters should end immediately when they hatch – while at the same time at another farm, meat chickens are being bred.
Are you in?
We feel that if people eat eggs, then why not eat the meat of the roosters that comes with it? You can prevent the shredding of day-old chicks by choosing this meat. Are you in? The meat from the first few flocks of Kipster roosters will be available early next year. We can stop the practice of killing male layer chicks if you join us. So, if you enjoy eating eggs, consider eating the meat that goes with them as well. Or consider becoming a vegan instead :-) Thank you.