Feather condition in laying hens is a practical and validated welfare indicator that reflects multiple welfare dimensions simultaneously. Its assessment provides valuable flock welfare information.
Feather condition provides a practical window into multiple welfare dimensions simultaneously. A hen with good feather condition has generally avoided sustained pecking attacks, has adequate nutritional status, and has not been excessively trodden by males. Feather loss — particularly in patches indicating bite wounds — directly signals pecking welfare problems. Widespread poor feather condition across a flock indicates a systemic management problem that requires investigation. The welfare value of feather condition assessment lies in its practicality: it can be assessed visually without handling, applied to large samples rapidly, and used to generate welfare outcome metrics comparable over time and between farms.