My consumed animals > Animals for eggs

There is no clear separation between the egg industry and the meat industry. In the egg industry millions of animals are killed each year, which are then either processed into animal feed (from killed chicks) or meat (from killed laying hens).

Male chickens are useless for the egg industry. Therefore, the males are separated from the female chicks and killed on the first day of their lives.

While wild chickens lay about 20 eggs a year, laying hens are bred to yield up to 300 eggs a year. This laying power tears their bodies to such an extent that their "egg production" subsides, and they are therefore slaughtered after an average of 1.5 years. The life expectancy of a chicken in freedom is 7 years.

• Average annual egg consumption per non-vegan in Germany

• Killed male chicks per non-vegan per year in Germany

• Killed laying hens per non-vegan per year in Germany

Only half of the eggs are purchased directly as such by the consumer. The other half is processed by bakeries and industry in products such as baked goods, confectionery, pasta, sauces and meat products.

The extrapolation of consumption over several years takes into account the historical development of average consumption. The individual average consumption can also be adjusted with regard to a subjectively experienced consumption pattern that differs from that of the average citizen.