Farmed Animals

Hen Mortality Rates as Welfare Indicator

Mortality rates in laying hen flocks are a key welfare indicator reflecting the impact of disease, management and housing system quality.

Key Facts

Mortality rates in commercial laying hen flocks average 3-6% in conventional systems
Cage-free systems can show higher mortality from keel bone fractures and pecking injury
Elevated mortality indicates welfare problems requiring investigation
Lower mortality correlates with better management, health monitoring and enrichment provision

Welfare Considerations

Mortality rate is a simple, measurable welfare indicator that reflects the cumulative impact of disease, injury, management quality and housing conditions. Elevated mortality means animals are dying prematurely — a clear welfare failure. The transition to cage-free systems has in some cases increased mortality without adequate attention to management, demonstrating that welfare improvements require holistic implementation rather than simple housing change.

What You Can Do

Support hen welfare standards that include mortality rate thresholds
Advocate for mandatory welfare reporting including mortality data from commercial flocks
Choose eggs from producers with demonstrably low mortality rates
Engage with cage-free transition progress to ensure it delivers genuine welfare improvement