Farmed Hen End-of-Lay Welfare and Transport

End-of-lay hens face some of the poorest welfare conditions in egg production during transport to slaughter, requiring improvements in catching, loading, journey conditions, and handling.

Key Facts

End-of-lay hens are typically transported at 12 to 18 months of age after bone density has declined significantly
Catching and crating end-of-lay hens causes high rates of bone fractures due to osteoporosis
Many end-of-lay hens are transported long distances to low-value processing plants due to economics
Dead on arrival rates for end-of-lay hens are higher than for broilers reflecting their compromised condition
Improved catching training, mechanical aids, and shorter journey distances reduce end-of-lay welfare harm

Welfare Considerations

End-of-lay hens arrive at slaughter in significantly compromised physical condition — osteoporotic bones fracture readily during catching, and the physical weakness of extended laying reduces resilience during transport. The economics of end-of-lay processing often drive long transport distances that compound welfare harm. Improving welfare at this stage requires investment in catching training, bone health during production to reduce fracture risk at end of lay, and shorter supply chains for end-of-lay processing. Welfare assessment of end-of-lay transport is an often-overlooked component of egg production welfare.

What You Can Do

Support egg welfare certification that includes end-of-lay transport conditions in audit scope
Advocate for bone health requirements during laying as a factor in end-of-lay transport welfare
Learn about end-of-lay hen welfare as a dimension of egg production beyond housing system type
Choose eggs from certified producers who address welfare throughout the production cycle including slaughter