Forced molting through feed withdrawal causes severe hunger and stress in laying hens to extend their productive life, representing a widely criticized welfare harm.
Forced molting by feed withdrawal is one of the most clear-cut welfare abuses in industrial poultry production. Starving hens for up to two weeks causes prolonged hunger — one of the most acute negative experiences an animal can have — along with significant weight loss, immune suppression, and increased disease susceptibility. The procedure is performed purely for economic reasons: extending the laying life of hens already nearing the end of their commercial productivity. Alternative molting methods and reforms banning feed withdrawal molting demonstrate that the welfare harm is unnecessary and avoidable.