Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I was willing to shell out an extra few dollars per dozen eggs every week thinking I was investing in kindness and happy chickens. The eggs have always been good, but I just learned that the "humane" claims aren't what I envisioned and why I was willing to pay extra. Vital Farms engages in "beak trimming" which they call "beak tipping". Research shows that this is likely painful and problematic from a humane standpoint. Vital Farms also supports male chick culling by purchasing chicks from those who engage in it, which means millions of chicks are slaughtered because they can't lay eggs. Once the hens on their farms are too old lay eggs, they are killed. From their web page "Lay thee down to rest": "So when retirement time comes, the farmers that we work with have little choice but to ‘retire’ the flock en masse. That currently means just one thing – and not to sugar coat it – the flock is euthanized, either on site at the farm or at a nearby slaughter plant." On Cornucopia Institute's website, where they have a "scorecard" for organic eggs, Vital Farms has a "Death Loss Rate 6-8% annually". Hens aren't allowed outdoors until they are over four months old and are killed at only eighteen months. I think people should be aware so they make informed choices.