Dame Joanna Lumley has made an urgent plea to ban the killing of millions of male chicks, describing the practice as unnecessary and calling for it to be outlawed. The actress and animal rights activist, 80, is backing a roadmap developed by the Vegetarian Society that urges the government to set a clear deadline to end the culling of 45 million male chicks each year. These chicks are gassed within hours of hatching because they cannot lay eggs or be used for meat.
Lumley stated: 'This unnecessary practice has no place here. I'm proud to support this path forward to end cruel male chick culling. As a nation of animal lovers, let's move forward and ban hatch and dispatch.' The roadmap has gained support from 19 cross-party politicians, following the Animal Welfare Strategy for England published in December, which indicated ministerial desire to see the practice banned.
Political Support and Public Petition
Irene Campbell MP, leading the parliamentary campaign, noted that nearly 90 MPs from across the political spectrum back the initiative. She emphasised the need for Defra colleagues to take a central role in advancing the process. Alongside the roadmap, the Vegetarian Society's Ban Hatch & Dispatch petition has amassed over 40,000 signatures, with celebrity backers including wildlife presenter Chris Packham, actor Brian Cox, comedian Dave Spikey, and TV vet Dr Marc Abraham.
International Context and Animal Welfare
Jenny Canham, Public Affairs Lead at the Vegetarian Society, said: 'With public concern growing and political support mounting, the question is no longer whether the UK will end chick culling – but how quickly it will act. Every year of delay means almost 45 million male chicks are needlessly killed within hours of hatching, simply because they are deemed useless to the industry. This roadmap is a call for swift action, and we hope the government listens.'
More countries are phasing out male chick culling, with Norway planning to transition by 2027 using in-ovo sexing technology, which determines the sex of an egg before hatching. The UK risks falling behind international developments. Dame Joanna, a former Bond girl, has long campaigned against factory farming, battery cages, and live animal transport, frequently urging the UK government to improve welfare standards.
