The cruel reality of egg production

The team was accompanied during the three operations by a total of three publicly known figures.

Adventurer and YouTuber Paul Schridde aka PJ Adventures was shocked to discover that hens are still being kept in cages, right in the middle of Germany. Content creator and actor Nathan Goldblatt was utterly speechless when he found himself standing in a sea of hens in a barn housing system, and comedienne Maria Clara Groppler was outraged when she entered an organic farm and discovered that organic has long since become factory farming. The appalling conditions found at the farms once again lay bare the cruel reality of egg production – especially now at Easter, as the dyed Easter eggs currently on sale everywhere originate from the documented facilities.

The research team visited three types of hen housing systems – cage, barn and organic – and found sick, injured and dead animals in all three facilities. Particularly shocking: even in organic farming, conditions were catastrophic. “Many people imagine organic farming as a species-appropriate alternative, yet here too the animals suffer enormously,” explains Lisa Wilhelm.

The rescued hens come from various housing systems, including a conventional cage system in which around 250’000 animals are forced to live in wire cages in extremely confined conditions. More than half of all eggs sold in Germany come from barn housing. Many people consider this form of housing to be more animal-friendly than cage farming, yet the reality looks quite different: up to nine hens share one square metre, and the animals live packed tightly together in large halls, often without natural daylight. The lack of movement, poor hygienic conditions and psychological stress lead, however, across all housing systems to behavioural disorders, feather pecking and injuries.

The first operation took place at a cage facility for laying hens, where Paul Schridde aka PJ Adventures accompanied the ANINOVA team. «I never would have thought that facilities like this still exist. This is simply cruel», said Schridde, horrified after the operation.

The second action took Nathan Goldblat to a barn housing facility where 100’000 chickens are kept, and the conditions were no less alarming. «It is extremely shocking to see that around 60% of eggs in Germany come from sick hens that NEVER see daylight! People have a right to know where their eggs come from.», said Goldblatt.

To conclude the rescue operations, comedienne Maria Clara Groppler was present and experienced the cruel reality of organic egg production up close. «I am shocked. Every person should see something like this at least once – many would then reconsider their diet, because this is surely not what anyone imagines when they think of organic», said Groppler after the operation.

Every year, millions of laying hens are exploited for egg production in Germany, and the demand for eggs is increasing massively. In Germany alone, a total of 15.2 billion consumer eggs were produced last year, especially now around Easter.

The animal rights organisation ANINOVA is calling for a rethink: «Eggs are a symbol of Easter, yet the reality behind them is alarming. Industrial laying hen farming causes immense suffering, and it is high time this came to an end», said Lisa Wilhelm.