When laying hens reach the end of their productive life at 72 weeks, most are killed for low-value meat, often transported long distances in poor conditions.
End-of-lay hens are in a welfare-vulnerable phase: their immune systems are depleted, they may have concurrent health issues from the laying period, and they face long transport journeys to low-value slaughter facilities. CO2 gassing causes distress during induction. The economic value of spent hens is low, reducing financial incentives for welfare investment. Adoption schemes provide an alternative for a small proportion, but most hens face a stressful end-of-life experience.