End-of-lay hens face significant welfare challenges as depleted bone density, poor condition, and transport to slaughter create acute welfare risks for millions of birds annually.
End-of-lay hen welfare represents a welfare crisis that is structurally embedded in commercial egg production. Hens selected for maximum egg production have been physiologically driven to their limits throughout their productive life, and arrive at end of lay in a state of advanced physical depletion. Bones fragile from calcium transfer, keel fractures acquired through production activity, depleted body condition, and often concurrent disease make these birds highly vulnerable. Every step of the end-of-lay process - catching, crating, transport, lairage, and slaughter - carries elevated welfare risk compared to younger, healthier animals. The welfare case for on-farm pre-slaughter stunning and on-farm killing for the most compromised birds is strong, reducing the welfare burden of transport for animals whose condition makes it most harmful.