Secret Footage Exposes Suffering of Hens in UK Gas Chambers

Secretly recorded footage has emerged showing hens in the UK egg industry suffering in gas chambers as they are suffocated with CO2 to provide meat for supermarkets. The distressing video captured by animal rights activist Joey Carbstrong at an abattoir in West Yorkshire run by HCF Poultry, a supplier to Cranswick Foods, shows birds writhing in distress with necks twisted, gasping for breath, and emitting high-pitched shrieks. Jenny L Mace, an associate lecturer in animal welfare, reviewed the footage and highlighted the birds' distressing behavior, collisions with equipment, and falling out of crates as concerning findings.

The use of CO2 to slaughter chickens in the UK, which has gradually replaced other methods, has come under scrutiny due to the distress caused to the animals. While there is no suggestion of illegality, experts question the humane treatment of animals in gas chambers given the distressing behavior observed in the footage. This investigation has shed light on the suffering of hens in the UK egg industry, challenging the industry's image of 'happy hens' and calling for transparency in how animals are treated for food production.