Livestock

Welfare of Laying Hens During Moulting

Forced moulting extends the productive life of laying hens but involves severe feed withdrawal that causes acute stress and hunger.

Key Facts

Induced moulting extends a hen's laying cycle by 6-12 months
Feed withdrawal for 5-10 days is the most common method of inducing moult in the US
EU countries must use non-feed-withdrawal methods; the US has no federal restriction
Hens lose up to 25% of body weight during forced moult via feed withdrawal
Zinc oxide, alfalfa and low-nutrient diets are used as alternatives to starvation

Welfare Considerations

Feed withdrawal causes severe hunger, aggression, increased mortality and psychological distress evidenced by increased stress vocalisations. The practice has been condemned by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Non-withdrawal methods achieve moult without starvation but are slower. In the EU, feed withdrawal is banned but implementation varies across member states.

What You Can Do

Choose eggs from producers who do not practice forced moulting
Advocate for a US federal ban on feed-withdrawal moulting
Support alternatives development for inducing moult without feed deprivation
Encourage food companies to include moulting protocols in their supplier welfare requirements