[RansomStark]

That's not quite right. These male chicks are from fertilized eggs. They are the ones that, had they been female, would have become the next set of egg layers.

The eggs we eat, at least the factory farmed variety, and most / all from commercial egg farms are not fertilized. Hens lay whether they've known the touch of a rooster or not. [0].

[0] https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/can_you_hatch_an_egg_bought_fr...

[em-bee]

you are right, yes, the eggs from big producers are not fertilized. i forgot about that detail. but depending on where you are there is a good chance that you can get fertilized eggs as well, or can't be certain that they are not fertilized. nevertheless it does change the equation, because it would be possible to ensure that only unfertilized eggs are consumed. thank you for the correction.