Laying Hen End-of-Lay Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

The end-of-lay period for laying hens involves transport, slaughter, and in some cases moulting. Welfare at this final stage is often overlooked but critically important.

Key Facts

Laying hens in commercial systems are typically slaughtered at 72-80 weeks when egg production declines
By end of lay, most free-range and barn hens have keel bone fractures, feather loss, and reduced immune function
End-of-lay hens are lower value than broilers, meaning slaughter systems may be less optimised for their welfare
Forced moulting (starvation to trigger a new laying cycle) is prohibited in the UK but practised in some countries
End-of-lay transport often involves rough handling of debilitated birds more vulnerable to injury
Effective stunning is critical for end-of-lay hens - their weakened condition increases recovery risk from inadequate stunning
RSPCA Assured standards require appropriate end-of-lay management but independent slaughter monitoring remains limited

Welfare Considerations

End-of-lay hen welfare represents a welfare challenge at the most vulnerable point in an already welfare-compromised life. Hens at end of lay have often spent 18 months with accumulated keel bone fractures, feather loss, and chronic disease. Transport for slaughter adds stress to debilitated birds. Slaughter welfare depends on handling quality and stunner effectiveness in systems less optimised for laying hen welfare than broiler processing. Comprehensive laying hen welfare must extend to this final stage.

What You Can Do

Support certification schemes that include end-of-lay handling and slaughter standards
Advocate for mandatory CCTV monitoring at all poultry slaughter facilities including those processing end-of-lay hens
Ask egg producers about their end-of-lay management protocols when assessing welfare claims
Support research into improving slaughter stunning effectiveness for end-of-lay hens