Farm Animals

Smothering in Laying Hens: A Hidden Welfare Issue

Smothering, in which hens pile on top of each other causing suffocation, is a poorly documented welfare problem in large cage-free and free-range flocks.

Key Facts

Smothering events can kill dozens or hundreds of hens in a single incident
Events typically occur when hens are disturbed at night and rush to a single dark area
Large flocks of thousands of birds have insufficient space to spread out during panics
Perches and pop holes allow better flock distribution and reduce smothering risk
Smothering is rarely reported in welfare statistics despite causing significant mortality

Welfare Considerations

Hens that smother experience death by asphyxiation, with the additional terror of being in a panicking crowd. Birds at the bottom of a pile experience crushing in addition to oxygen deprivation. Survivors from smothering events may be injured from trampling. The incidence of smothering increases with flock size, making very large cage-free flocks problematic from a welfare perspective despite their advantages over caged systems.

What You Can Do

Support maximum flock size standards in laying hen welfare schemes
Advocate for lighting and perch requirements that reduce panic and smothering
Choose eggs from smaller flocks where welfare records are available
Support research into smothering risk factors and prevention
Back monitoring requirements that record smothering incidents in official statistics