Induced moulting — forcing hens to stop laying by feed withdrawal — extends the productive life of laying flocks but causes acute hunger, stress, and immune suppression.
Induced moulting through feed withdrawal imposes acute welfare costs to extend commercial utility of laying hens. Hens undergoing feed withdrawal experience measurable hunger, lose weight rapidly, suffer immunosuppression that increases disease susceptibility, and show elevated stress hormone levels. The EU ban on feed-withdrawal moulting represents a genuine welfare improvement, though alternative non-feed-withdrawal methods still cause some stress. In markets where feed withdrawal is still practiced, consumer and retailer pressure for welfare-certified eggs from non-moulted or non-feed-withdrawal-moulted flocks is the primary available lever. The practice represents a clear case where a welfare cost is imposed on individuals to maximise production efficiency.