Morganton, North Carolina and Washington, DC – September 21, 2021 – Today Animal Outlook released investigative footage captured at a North Carolina chicken hatchery owned by Case Farms – one of the top 15 chicken producers in the U.S., which processes more than 200,000 chicks daily. It was the first look inside animal agriculture in North Carolina since the state adopted an “ag-gag” law.
The investigation revealed newly-hatched chicks killed, mangled, or trapped in improperly operated equipment; chicks deformed or hatched improperly and left to die; chicks roughly handled, thrown, or driven over with machinery; injured or deformed chicks left languishing in trays for hours; and sick or injured birds gassed before being dumped into a macerator – in some instances while still fully conscious.
“It’s clear that Case Farms does not take seriously its legal and ethical duties of care toward the millions of animals it brings into the world each month. In fact, it appears to be so callous, the cruelty and neglect it imposes on these animals is simply business as usual,” said Animal Outlook’s Executive Director Cheryl Leahy. “It is incumbent upon us all as part of a caring society to ensure systemic abusers like this are held accountable.”
Chicks who survive the hatchery are moved to a grow-out facility, crammed into dark, dirty sheds for a few more weeks before slaughter at around six weeks old. Animal Outlook notified local law enforcement and requested criminal charges against Case Farms for violation of North Carolina’s animal cruelty and neglect laws.
