Induced molting forces laying hens into a new laying cycle through feed deprivation or low-nutrition diets, causing significant acute stress and raising important welfare concerns about an industry practice.
Feed withdrawal induces acute physiological stress in hens as the body responds to starvation by initiating a molt and reproductive reset. Hens without access to food for days show stereotypic pecking at empty feeders, increased aggression, and significant immune suppression. The welfare costs are measurable and the alternatives — low-nutrition dietary molting methods — while better than starvation, still impose significant stress. The economic incentive to molt hens rather than replace flocks with younger birds is strong, but the welfare case for transitioning to less stressful alternatives and replacing flocks sooner is clear.