Farmed Animals

Mortality Rates in Laying Hen Flocks

Mortality rates in laying hen flocks indicate welfare quality and are measurable across different production systems.

Key Facts

Average mortality in conventional cage flocks is around 3-4 percent per year
Free-range and barn flocks can have higher mortality from pecking and disease
Mortality reduction is a key target in welfare improvement programmes
High mortality indicates systemic welfare problems that must be investigated
Record-keeping requirements for mortality allow trend analysis and welfare benchmarking

Welfare Considerations

Mortality rates are a tangible welfare outcome measure in laying hen production. High mortality reflects welfare failures that cause preventable suffering and death. Monitoring mortality alongside other welfare indicators allows progressive improvement and benchmarking between farms and systems.

What You Can Do

Support welfare certifications that require mortality monitoring and reporting
Choose eggs from flocks with documented low mortality rates
Advocate for mandatory mortality reporting in all laying hen systems
Support research into mortality drivers and prevention in different laying systems