Forced moulting — inducing a new laying cycle by feed withdrawal — causes significant suffering and is banned in many countries; natural moulting alternatives provide equivalent production benefits.
Forced moulting through feed withdrawal caused acute starvation distress in hens whose feed was completely removed for up to two weeks. The practice extended laying cycles by inducing a rest period that reset reproductive physiology, but the welfare cost — extreme hunger, weight loss of 25-35%, and high mortality from immune suppression — was profound. The EU ban following scientific review demonstrates that regulatory action can eliminate harmful practices. However, the continued legality of feed withdrawal moulting in the US means that imported products may come from systems using this practice. Non-starvation alternative moulting methods achieve comparable production benefits without welfare harm.