Induced molting - deliberately starving or feed-restricting hens to trigger a new laying cycle - is practiced in egg production to extend the productive life of flocks. It is one of the most controversial welfare practices in industrial egg farming.
Forced molting by complete feed withdrawal is one of the most clear-cut welfare violations in commercial egg production. Hens are evolved to seek food continuously - a fundamental drive - and starvation for over a week creates acute suffering. Hunger-stressed hens show dramatically increased aggressive pecking, feather-pulling, and stereotypic behavior. Immune suppression during molting increases susceptibility to Salmonella infection, creating both a welfare and food safety issue. Despite available alternatives that cause less suffering, cost and convenience have maintained starvation-based molting in many markets. Consumer pressure and certification standards have been among the most effective drivers of change in this practice.