You can now buy eggs from in-ovo sexed hens

Current practice & public awareness

• Commenters emphasize that male chicks in egg production are typically killed almost immediately after hatching, often by maceration (industrial grinding) or gas, and are not raised or fed.
• Several note how few consumers understand this; many mistakenly think males are raised for meat, or even that males can lay eggs.
• There is confusion and disagreement about global and US chick-culling numbers, with people pointing out inconsistencies in cited figures and Wikipedia.

Economics and industry incentives

• Some argue producers already have an economic incentive to adopt in-ovo sexing (saves on incubation, sexing labor, and handling), but current tech still adds a few cents per dozen eggs, making it more expensive for now.
• Others think the share of eggs used to produce layers is small versus total egg volume, so savings might be modest until the technology gets cheaper.
• There’s interest in whether this could reach widespread adoption given Europe’s early uptake.

Ethical debates: death, suffering, and “when life begins”

• A major thread contrasts immediate death versus a short, stressful life in crowded conditions for hens. Some think instant death may be preferable; others see any chance at life as better.
• In-ovo sexing is seen by many as a reduction in suffering, since embryos at 9–15 days are presumed not yet conscious, versus fully hatched chicks.
• Others argue that focusing on male chick culling ignores the ongoing poor welfare and early slaughter of laying hens; some advocate veganism instead.

Perception of cruelty vs actual harm

• Several point out that maceration is extremely fast and likely less painful than many natural or human deaths, but the visuals are viscerally disturbing.
• Discussion touches on how emotional reactions can diverge from objective suffering, comparing lethal injection vs guillotine, and broader questions about the “sanctity of life.”

Technology details & open questions

• Described methods include optical/spectroscopic imaging and sampling egg fluid for hormones or PCR-based sex-chromosome detection.
• Clarification: fertilized eggs for breeding are sexed in-ovo; the eggs sold in stores are usually unfertilized, though fertilized eggs are also edible.
• Some wonder if in-ovo destruction is morally much different from post-hatch culling, and whether the technology is genuinely impactful or just an ethical marketing tier.