Mon Amie was only days old when she was surrendered into our care. With what looked like seizures, little Mon Amie was left to struggle and flail about for days. We can only imagine the stress her tiny form was under.

It was only through one caring student and their mother that Mon Amie got the help she needed and was brought to Edgar’s Mission. Here she was given critical veterinary care, but there was nothing that could be done to save her. Mon Amie was yet another victim of chicken hatching projects.

What is a chicken hatching project? All over Australia, chicken eggs that are ready to hatch within 2 to 3 days are transported to early learning centres, schools and aged care facilities. Here they are artificially incubated as onlookers, primarily children, watch and wait for the chicks to hatch.

Impressionable young minds learn that birds come out of shells, are fun to play with and then, when the “fun” is over, they can be discarded. When they see chicks who have hatched with deformities or who have died over the weekend, as no one was there to care for them, they learn that the lives of animals are disposable and of little concern. Children can also become upset themselves if they see their new little friends suffer.

Do we really want our children growing up desensitised to the suffering and needs of other living creatures?

It speaks volumes that most schools have no veterinary budget. As was the case for poor Mon Amie, those responsible thought she was having seizures yet still left her to suffer for days.

Once the lesson is over, the fate of the chicks is uncertain. While some go to live with the families of the children, half the chicks are likely male and many families either don’t wish to keep roosters or councils won’t allow them.

For no fault of their own, the lot of roosters is beyond dismal. They have been overflowing into sanctuaries at such a rate that most can’t house any more. The plight of roosters is a sad one indeed, as these proud and handsome beings are dumped, euthanised or find themselves in poultry sale yards and headed for the chopping block.

Most chicken hatching project operators will also offer to take the chicks back, what they then do with them is a question we should be asking.

Sign our petition and stand with Mon Amie, so we can ensure no more chicks have to suffer for chicken hatching projects in Australia. There are many hatching project alternatives available, so let’s ensure children are learning the right lessons that include compassion and concern for animals.

To learn more about why we think chicken hatching projects should be banned, click here.