The fate of spent laying hens at the end of their productive life raises significant welfare concerns, from catching and transport stress to slaughter methods and the low economic value that often limits humane treatment.
End-of-lay hen welfare receives significantly less attention than the laying period, yet represents a distinct welfare event for every hen that enters production. The catching and loading process - often performed at speed by crews working through the night - causes handling stress, injuries, and bone fractures in animals with bone density reduced by the calcium demands of egg production. Transport to slaughter facilities that may accept low-value poultry is often lower standard than broiler transport. The low economic value of spent hens reduces the financial incentive for welfare investment in the end-of-lay period. Welfare certification programs increasingly address end-of-lay practices alongside production period standards.