The welfare of laying hens during the pullet rearing period fundamentally determines their ability to cope with the challenges of the adult laying environment.
Pullet rearing welfare has long-term consequences for the entire laying lifetime of the hen. Pullets reared in cages and then transferred to barn or free-range systems as adults struggle to use the resources available to them - they have not learned to perch, forage, or navigate complex environments. Poor bone development during restricted rearing predisposes hens to keel bone fractures throughout their productive life. Matching the rearing environment to the adult laying environment is a simple principle with profound welfare consequences that the industry often ignores for economic convenience.