Induced molting - forcing hens to stop laying eggs to reset their production cycle - traditionally involved feed withdrawal causing significant suffering, with welfare-positive feed-based alternatives now available.
Feed withdrawal molting was one of the most egregious accepted welfare practices in egg production - subjecting animals with documented hunger responses to deliberate starvation for up to two weeks was defended on production grounds alone. The shift to non-feed-withdrawal alternatives demonstrates that industry practices can change when welfare science is coupled with regulatory pressure and consumer concern. However, the underlying practice of keeping hens in industrial conditions through a second laying cycle, even with improved molt methods, continues to involve ongoing welfare compromises including cage confinement, beak trimming, and high stocking densities.