Written questions

Poultry: Animal Welfare

Commons · Question 116175 · Tabled 26 Feb 2026 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs · Official record

Answered 4 Mar 2026

Question

Asked by Rachael Maskell

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether a consultation on ending the routine culling of male chicks through in-ovo sexing is under consideration.

Answer

Answered by Dame Angela Eagle, 4 Mar 2026

As stated in the recently published Animal Welfare Strategy the Government would like to see an end to the practice of killing day-old chicks and we will be working with the UK egg industry to this end. The Government welcomes industry’s interest in the d...