Induced molting — used to extend the productive life of laying hens — has historically involved feed withdrawal that causes severe hunger, and welfare reforms have driven transition to more humane protocols.
Feed withdrawal molting causes one of the most acute documented forms of hunger-related suffering in poultry. Hens deprived of food for multiple days experience significant physiological and behavioral distress — elevated stress hormones, increased aggression, and behavioral desperation. The practice persists in some regions because it is simple, effective, and inexpensive. Non-feed-withdrawal alternatives demonstrate that the production benefits of molting can be achieved without deliberately inducing starvation. Consumer and retailer pressure, combined with legislative reform in some jurisdictions, has driven significant movement away from feed-withdrawal protocols, but global adoption remains incomplete.