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INVESTIGATION: Horror Revealed Within Free-range Egg Industry

A new investigation from Animal Equality Germany reveals the cruelty inside free-range farms. Showing the reality of the birds whose lives are dedicated to the production of eggs.
April 12, 2014 Updated: July 6, 2022
Bird,Chicken,Comb,Beak,Feather,Liver,farmed animal

Over 13,7 billion eggs are produced each year in Germany, but few people know just how those eggs are produced, and for many shoppers the grim reality of life for free-range hens will come as a shock. A new investigation from Animal Equality Germany reveals the cruelty inside free-range farms. Showing the reality of the birds whose lives are dedicated to the production of eggs.

Animal Equality Germany investigated four farms located in the state of Baden-Württemberg, where thousands of animals live out their entire lives crammed into barns, some farms housing up to 12,000 hens. This truly is egg production on an industrial scale, but these aren’t factory farms. Two of the farms investigated have been certified with high welfare schemes, which are considered to provide the highest standards for organic food in the world. The other two are labeled with the regional high-quality schemes. These farms also supply major supermarket chains. The images show:

  • Animals crammed together and with clear signs of stress.
  • Sick, injured and dying chickens in the barn.
  • Carcasses left for days and even weeks to decompose.
  • Hens pecking each other’s feathers and signs of cannibalism.
  • Filthy housing conditions, ulcers, and other injuries which received no veterinarian treatment.

Shoppers buy free-range because they believe the hens are happy and are free to scratch around in the soil outside, but the reality is much different. These are standard egg industry practices, and not only do animals suffer a life of misery and pain, but male chicks are shredded alive or gassed at birth at the hatcheries as they are unable to lay eggs, and not profitable for the industry.


Luckily there is a simple solution, and you can help end this cruelty. We can save the lives of millions of chickens by making compassionate choices and replacing eggs with animal friendly alternatives. Millions of people worldwide are making a difference, and have already replaced eggs with delicious animal-free alternatives.

Learn more: animalequality.net/food/eggs

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